The Black & Whites fell to their biggest defeat of the season so far as they went down 10-27 to an in-form Catalans Dragons at the KCOM Stadium on Monday night.
On the night where the Black & Whites welcomed back their loyal members for the first time in over 400 days, it wasn’t to be on the field for Brett Hodgson’s side as a second-half surge from the Dragons saw them head back to France with the points.
The sides found themselves level at 4-4 at the break, but 26 unanswered points from Catalans earned them the win and gave Hull their second loss of the season.
Team News
Hull welcomed back both Jake Connor and Brad Fash from suspension having missed last week’s game against Wigan.
Josh Reynolds made his first appearance at the KCOM Stadium, while Joe Cator played in front of the home Black & White supporters for the first time.
Danny Houghton became the club’s joint second highest appearance maker of the Super League era, going level with Kirk Yeaman on 374.
The Match
It was the Dragons who earned the first points of the evening as James Maloney slotted over a penalty goal within the first five minutes.
However, Maloney was soon sent to the sin bin for a professional foul on Josh Griffin. Hull took advantage of the extra man as Mahe Fonua powered over for the first try of the game on the 16 minute mark.
Sneyd was off target with the boot, and the visitors leveled the scores with a second penalty goal not long after, as Arthur Morgue added the two points.
Half-Time: Hull FC 4-4 Catalans Dragons
It was the Airlie Birds who crossed first after the break, and it was Josh Reynolds who touched down on his first appearance at the KCOM Stadium, with Jake Connor breaking though the line, and the half-back being on hand to finish the move in front of the South Stand end.
However, Steve McNamara’s men would level the scores 15 minutes into the clock with their first try of the game, as Sam Kasiano got on the end of a grubber into the FC in-goal. Maloney was on target with the boot to make it ten a-piece.
The Dragons earned their second try of the game courtesy of back-rower Mike McMeeken. The Dragons broke away down the left edge only from Jake Connor to make an impressive try-scoring tackle on Samisoni Langi, but fast hands from the visitors saw the forward dive over on the opposite side of the field. Maloney added the goal.
Maloney added a drop-goal for the Dragons, before the visitors sealed the win with a late try in the corner from Tom Davies. The in-form winger added a further score moments later to add to the Black & Whites frustrations and give FC their biggest defeat of the season so far.
Full-Time: Hull FC 10-27 Catalans Dragons
Squads:
Hull FC: Jake Connor, Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Mahe Fonua, Josh Reynolds, Marc Sneyd, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Manu Ma’u, Andre Savelio, Jordan Lane.
Interchange: Andre Savelio, Joe Cator, Brad Fash, Cameron Scott.
Catalans: Sam Tomkins, TOm Davies, Samisoni Langi, Dean Whare, Fouad Yaha, James Maloney, Josh Drinkwater, Joel Tomkins, Michael McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Benjamin Jullien, Michael McMeeken, Ben Garcia.
Interchange: Arthur Morgue, Mickael Goudemand, Jason Baitieri, Sam Kasiano.
Scorers:
Hull FC Tries: Fonua (16), Reynolds (42)
Hull FC Goals: Sneyd (1/2)
Catalans Tries: Kasiano (54), McMeeken (64), Davies (73, 77)
Catalans Goals: Maloney (4/5), Morgue (1/1)
Catalans Drop-Goal: Maloney (70)
Attendance: 5527
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