The Black & Whites opened their account for the 2022 Betfred Super League season with a hard-fought 16-12 victory over Wakefield Trinity on Sunday afternoon.
Tries from debutantes Luke Gale in the first-half, and Joe Lovodua and Darnell McIntosh after the break saw Brett Hodgson’s men claim victory in their first clash of the season, in poor conditions at the Be Well Support Stadium.
Despite going down to 12 men with Jake Connor sent off for the final quarter of the game, the Airlie Birds held on for their third consecutive round one victory.
Team News
Brett Hodgson was boosted by the return from injury of 2021 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel nominee Jake Connor and Player of the Year Chris Satae for this afternoon’s clash with Wakefield Trinity.
Despite that, Hull’s side was missing as many as ten first team players after the withdrawal of Josh Griffin and Carlos Tuimavave with hamstring injuries and Jamie Shaul not recovering from an ankle knock in time for the final match of the opening round of Betfred Super League.
Hodgson handed debuts to Darnell McIntosh, and newly appointed captain Luke Gale.
Trinity were missing Samoa international Mason Lino as well as centre Bill Tupou and Jai Whitebread, whilst Willie Poaching handed debuts for former Black & White Tom Lineham, Corey Hall, Lee Gaskell and Liam Hood.
The Match
The game began with a flurry of early penalties awarded by referee Marcus Griffiths, with both sides penalised for late tackles, but despite good field position both ways neither side could take advantage.
Hull broke the deadlock with a try from captain Luke Gale. Connor Wynne created space for himself by shrugging off a Trinity defender and raced up field, passing infield for Gale to race over to score. The debutant converted his own try to give Hull an early advantage.
The tempo for the game didn’t change from there, with both sides happy to complete their sets and play for field position, but Wakefield perhaps had the best of the clash, with two back to back opportunities on the Hull line.
However, their breakthrough came from deep in their own half. Tom Johnstone collected a loose ball from a Hull chance that went to ground and raced 60 meters up field. He was tackled by Connor Wynne and Darnell McIntosh, but Trinity kept the ball moving on the short side, Jacob Miller taking his time, finding Corey Hall who strolled in to score on debut.
Half Time: Wakefield Trinity 6 – 6 Hull FC
Hull scored the first try of the half, with Campbell Engineering Man of the Match Joe Lovodua reclaiming FC’s advantage just three minutes after the break. Lovodua, on at loose forward, took the ball at first receiver and threw an exaggerated dummy and ran in from 15 meters away before performing his trademark three claps celebration. Gale converted for his second of the afternoon.
Hull scored next less than ten minutes later. Connor Wynne was influential again in the score, busting through a number of Trinity defenders on the left and winning a quick play the ball. Hull worked play from left to right, travelling through several pairs of hands before Jake Connor found Darnell McIntosh on the edge. The winger still had work to do, spinning out of a tackle and reaching out to score.
Hull were forced to spend the last fifteen minutes a man short, with Jake Connor sent off for a high tackle on James Batchelor after the back rower broke through the Hull line.
Wakefield continued to press, with back to back sets on the Hull goalline, but outstanding play from Andre Savelio regained possession for the Black & Whites ahead of several Wakefield chasers from a Gaskell kick in goal.
Eventually the pressure told, Tom Johnstone flying in in the corner, as he so often does, for Trinity after smart play down the short side by Jacob Miller. Jowitt converted from goal from the touchline to reduce the deficit to four.
Both sides played out the last few minutes with twelve men, Lee Gaskell picking up a serious looking shoulder injury but was unable to be replaced because Trinity had used all of their interchanges.
Hull continued to press, but Miller pounced on a loose ball to relieve the pressure and charge 40 meters up field. The set ended in Hull’s corner, before the West Yorkshire side forced a drop out.
After a lengthy break for an injury to Ligi Sao, Hull defended their line well, Jowitt thinking he had made a break but was pulled back for obstruction, with Gale putting the ball in touch just shy of half way from the resulting penalty.
Hull saw the game out from there, Gale getting off the line quickly to force an error from Jacob Miller and get Hull the feed at the scrum with less than a minute on the clock.
Full Time: Wakefield Trinity 12 – 16 Hull FC
Line Ups
Wakefield Trinity: Max Jowitt, Tom Johnstone, Corey Hall, Reece Lyne, Tom Lineham, Lee Gaskell, Jacob Miller, Tinirau Arona, Liam Hood, David Fifita, Matty Ashurst, Jay Pitts, Jordy Crowther; Eddie Battye, James Batchelor, Kelepi Tanginoa, Liam Kay
Hull FC: Jake Connor, Adam Swift, Connor Wynne, Cam Scott, Darnell McIntosh, Josh Reynolds, Luke Gale, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Brad Fash, Jordan Lane, Andre Savelio, Jordan Johnstone; Aidan Burrell, Chris Satae, Jack Brown, Joe Lovodua
Scorers
Wakefield Trinity Tries: Hall (37), Johnstone (72)
Wakefield Trinity Goals: Jowitt (2/2)
Hull FC Tries: Gale (13), Lovodua (43) McIntosh (50)
Hull FC Goals: Gale 2/3
Attendance: 6418
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