Hull FC made it a night to remember at Headingley Stadium with a comprehensive 31-8 victory over a lacklustre Leeds Rhinos side.
Jake Connoe stole the show on a night where Hull were without ten first-team players and coming into the match on just a four-day turnaround.
The Black & Whites were clinical in both attack and defence, scoring five tries, and claiming their third win of the season.
The mood was soured through with Joe Cator suffered a suspected ruptured Achilles injury on the night he made his return from the same injury.
Team News
For the second week running, Brett Hodgson was forced into three changes from his team that faced Castleford Tigers just four days ago.
Hodgson’s side was boosted by the return of Joe Cator from a serious Achilles injury sustained in August’s victory over Hull KR, with Josh Bowden and Mitieli Vulikijapani both also coming into the side for their second appearance of the season.
However, Josh Reynolds dropped out of the team with an elbow injury sustained at the Mend-A-Hose injury, whilst academy graduates Jordan Lane (back) and Connor Wynne (elbow) were also unavailable for selection, taking the Black & Whites to a total of ten absentees for the trip to West Yorkshire.
Richard Agar made three changes of his own for Leeds, with Harry Newman missing out with a hamstring issue picked up against Wakefield Trinity, with Cameron Smith and club captain Kruise Leeming both picking up suspensions in the game.
They were replaced by Corey Johnson, Alex Mellor and James Donaldson for the Rhinos.
The Match
Leeds perhaps had the better of the opening exchanges, going close through David Fusitu’a early in the contest, but Jamie Shaul had the pace to get across and force the former New Zealand Warrior into touch.
That was followed by a flurry of sin bins, with Kane Evans sent for 10 minutes for a high tackle on Jack Walker, before Matt Prior followed him shortly afterwards for his own high shot on Adam Swift, which resulted in the winger needing to leave the field for a Head Injury Assessment and forcing a reshuffle in Brett Hodgson’s pack for a big chunk of the first half.
Hull grew into the game at twelve apiece, first going close through Mitieli Vulikijapani who had the ball knocked from his grasp as he pounced on a loose effort from Ash Handley, before the pressure told and Jake Connor opened the scoring on the twenty minute mark.
Ben McNamara had earned a quick play the ball after spotting a gaping hole in the Rhinos defence, and on the final tackle of the set Connor dummied to kick wide before pulling the ball back into his grasp and powering over from close range. McNamara converted the try from close to the posts.
Hull continued to build pressure, and again that told as Adam Swift, returning from his HIA crossed in the corner, after good work from Jake Connor, who threw a pass from 15 meters on the money for Swift to walk in in the corner. McNamara converted from the touchline.
There was time for Connor to make his mark again on the contest before half-time as he scored his second try of the evening. Leeds went close with a chance of their own that was pulled back for a forward pass. On play one from the scrum the outstanding Ligi Sao earned a six again, and another repeat set came Hull’s way as Matt Prior knocked a loose pass down into the hands of Brad Fash.
The loose ball fell kindly for Fash, and the ball was worked wide to Jake Connor, who got on the outside of Blake Austin on Hull’s left to score. Ben McNamara was again successful with his conversion attempt.
HALF-TIME: LEEDS RHINOS 0 – 18 HULL FC
Again, Leeds started the stronger of the two sides at the start of the second half, and again David Fusitu’a went close for the West Yorkshire side, this time Shaul and Griffin combining to force the winger into touch as he went for the line.
Once again, Hull were clinical with possession handed their way. Winning a six again for an offence on Andre Savelio the Black & Whites marched downfield, and Joe Lovodua hit the Exiles representative on a lovely line to extend Hull’s lead. McNamara was unable to convert for the first time.
Hull kept the scoreboard ticking, as Adam Swift intercepted a pass and raced 90 meters downfield, but was caught by Ash Handley. On the last tackle of the set Leeds were caught offside, and Ben McNamara tagged on a penalty goal to extend Hull’s lead to 24 points.
The evening took a dampener for Hull, as Joe Cator left the field with a serious looking leg injury, which Brett Hodgson will be hoping isn’t as bad as it appeared.
That couldn’t spoil the evening for Hull, as they struck next with Joe Lovodua getting his third try of the season. Josh Griffin carried with purpose from dummy half and threw a long pass to Jordan Johnstone. Johnstone threaded a grubber kick behind the Rhinos line which Joe Lovodua chased hard and managed to ground before the deadball line. McNamara converted for his fifth goal of the night.
Jake Connor rounded off the scoring for the Black & Whites to cap a famous victory for Hull, kicking a drop goal in off the woodwork without just over five minutes left on the clock
However, there was time for Leeds to strike with a pair of consolation tries through testimonial man Tom Briscoe, on the end of a long pass from Aidan Sezer to walk in in the corner, before Liam Sutcliffe found a gap in the Hull line and just had the pace to score just before the final hooter.
FULL-TIME: LEEDS RHINOS 8 – 31 HULL FC
The Teams:
Leeds Rhinos: Jack Walker, David Fusitu’a, Tom Briscoe, Liam Sutcliffe, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Mikolaj Oledzki, Corey Johnson, Matt Prior, Morgan Gannon, Rhyse Martin, Zane Tatevano,
Interchange: Alex Mellor, Bodene Thompson, Brad Dwyer, James Donaldson
Hull FC: Jake Connor, Adam Swift, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Josh Griffin, Jamie Shaul, Ben McNamara, Joe Lovodua, Kane Evans, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Ligi Sao, Jack Brown,
Interchange: Brad Fash, Joe Cator, Jordan Johnstone, Josh Bowden
Scorers:
Leeds Tries: Tom Briscoe, Liam Sutcliffe
Leeds Goals: Rhyse Martin (0/2)
Hull FC Tries: Jake Connor (2), Adam Swift, Andre Savleio Joe Lovodua
Hull FC Goals: Ben McNamara (5/6)
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