The Hull FC Academy made it back-to-back wins with a 38-26 victory over Newcastle Thunder U19s at the University of Hull yesterday evening.
Six different players were on the scoresheet for the Black & Whites, with Callum Rutland scoring a brace.
Hull held a commanding position throughout the match, and despite a late Thunder flourish, the hosts had already done enough to secure the victory.
The Match
Just as they did in last week’s win over Bradford Bulls, Hull drew first blood after just three minutes. Ben McNamara, playing his first academy game of the season, dabbed a delicate grubber kick into the in goal area, which was pounced on by Rutland.
Isaac Nokes got Newcastle up and running for the evening, leaping high in the air to claim a high kick and dot down over the try line.
Both sides traded tries in the few minutes that followed. Marcus Walker supplied a perfect pass to Keiran Masike, who went over for his first try of the season, before Nokes jinked through to keep Newcastle within touching distance of FC.
But it didn’t take much longer for Hull to exert their class on the game. Running in three tries in little more than ten minutes prior to half-time saw Danny Wilson’s side dealt a strong hand for the remainder of the game.
Ryan Morley scored underneath the sticks thanks to a glorious show and go, before McNamara provided assists for Leon Stewart and Jude Ferreira, both of whom were on the scoresheet in last week’s win over Bradford.
HALF-TIME: Hull 28-8 Thunder
The Airlie Birds’ youngsters started the second half as they finished the first 40. McNamara was once again the provider, floating a ball over the top to Walker, who sliced his way through the Newcastle centre and halfback with ease.
To their credit, Thunder came back swinging. The visitors constructed some good shape and crossed in the right corner through William Groves.
Rutland grabbed his second of the match for Hull when he burrowed over from close range after intelligently scooting from dummy half.
In the closing stages of the match, Newcastle demonstrated their intent to play to the final whistle with two well executed tries.
Joshua McDermott took a smart try from dummy half and Evan Lawther scored in the right corner after a shift play, but FC had already done enough to earn the victory on a sunny evening at the University of Hull.
FULL-TIME: Hull 38-26 Thunder
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Walker, Masike, Litten, Ferreira, Speed, McNamara, Rutland, Gibson, Morley, Watkinson, Stewart, Severs, Burrell
Hull Interchanges: Cohen, Jebson, Petrie, Waites
Hull Tries: Rutland (2), Masike, Morley, Stewart, Ferreira, Walker
Hull Goals: McNamara (5/7)
Thunder: Bibby, Jardine, Nokes, Lawther, Groves, Shaw, Walker, Anderson, Hepple, Branthwaite, Kehoe, Steele, Wilkinson
Thunder Interchanges: Bowler, Crossley, McDermott, Skelton
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