Match Report: Hull FC 18-46 Castleford Tigers

Match Report: Hull FC 18-46 Castleford Tigers

The Black & Whites fell to a disappointing 18-46 defeat at the MKM Stadium as Castleford scored 32 second-half points.

Club News

The Black & Whites fell to a disappointing 18-46 defeat at the MKM Stadium as Castleford scored 32 second-half points.

Hull led 18-14 at the break after a lively opening forty, with scores from Vulikijapani, McIntosh, and Houghton, but it was the visitors who ran away with the scoreline after the break.

Team News

Hodgson made five changes to the side that was named ahead of last week’s clash against Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium, with several key players coming back into the side.

Jake Connor was named in the halves, making his first start since his knee injury sustained against Wakefield at the start of June.

Meanwhile, Connor Wynne, Ligi Sao, Kane Evans, and Jordan Johnstone all return from their respective suspensions.

Josh Griffin (quad) and Chris Satae (ankle) both drop out with injury, as well as young trio Jacob Hookem, Charlie Severs and Matty Laidlaw.

Adam Swift (leg), Manu Ma’u (hamstring), Ben McNamara (back), and Cameron Scott (groin) all remain on the sidelines, as well as long-term absentees Carlos Tuimavave (Achilles), Andre Savelio (knee) and Joe Cator (Achilles).

The Match

Castleford got their first points of the evening after three minutes when Danny Richardson slotted over a penalty goal.

And the Tigers soon had their first try of the evening when Derrell Olpherts got to a delicate Greg Eden grubber into the in-goal area. Richardson slotted over the kick.

The encounter was predicted to be a fiery one in the build-up, and it proved to be as the game hit the quarter-hour mark. Connor Wynne chased a Jake Connor grubber towards the corner, but was tackled off the ball in the process with an apparent shoulder charge. A scuffle ensued, which saw Wynne and Derrell Olpherts sent to the sin-bin.

But Hull made the most of the resulting penalty, scoring off the next set with the ball sent over to the left edge at pace, allowing Mitieli Vulikijapani to power over the try-line. Gale converted.

Hull piled on the pressure and were soon ahead, but only after a lengthy video referee referral. Darnell McIntosh got to the end of a Jake Connor grubber into the in-goal, just millimeters from the deadball line. Gale slotted over the goal.

The moment of the first-half came courtesy of Danny Houghton; Hull got a penalty on the half-way line, and caught the Tigers napping. Houghton’s quick tap saw him race away some fifty metres to touch down under the sticks, before being mobbed by his teammates. Gale made it three with the boot.

Castleford hit back though despite the period of Hull dominance, and it was Olpherts who bagged his second. He powered his way over the try-line, at first seemingly being held up, but managed to get an arm free to touch down. Richardson kicks a third goal.

Half-Time: Hull FC 18-14 Castleford Tigers

Castleford took the lead just six minutes into the second-half, when former Black & White Bureta Faraimo intercepted a Jake Connor pass and raced some eighty metres to touch down at the South Stand end. Richardson successfully sent over a fourth kick to take the lead.

And it was back-to-back tries for the winger just two minutes later when the visitors made the most of an Olpherts break downfield, going over in the corner where the Tigers had the numbers over Hull. Richardson missed the kick, and it was a six point lead.

Hull fell even further behind when Suaia Matagi fired through a gap in the FC line to race over under the sticks with 25 minutes to play. Richardson kicked a fifth.

And the game was as good as done with twenty minutes to play when Olpherts bagged his hat-trick try, completing a downfield break in the corner, before adding a fourth just minutes later in similar fashion. Richardson kicked both.

Connor Wynne was sin-binned for a second time, while Ligi Sao saw red in a dismal second-half display, both defensively, and in discipline.

Castleford added to Hull’s woes in the closing stages when Alex Sutcliffe scored an intercept try from his own half.

Full-Time: Hull FC 18-46 Castleford Tigers

Squads:

Hull FC: Jack Walker, Darnell McIntosh, Connor Wynne, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Josh Simm, Jake Connor, Luke Gale, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Kane Evans, Jordan Lane, Joe Lovodua, Brad Fash.

Interchange:Jack Brown, Jordan Johnstone, Scott Taylor, Ellis Longstaff.

Castleford: Greg Eden, Bureta Faraimo, Alex Sutcliffe, Mahe Fonua, Derrell Olpherts, Gareth O’Brien, Danny Richardson, George Griffin, Paul McShane, George Lawler, Kenny Edwards, Alex Mellor, Joe Westerman.

Interchange: Jake Mamo, Adam Milner, Daniel Smith, Suaia Matagi

Scorers:

Hull FC Tries: Vulikijapani (15), McIntosh (19) Houghton (25)

Hull FC Goals: Gale (3/3)

Castleford Tries: Olpherts (7,32, 60, 65), Faraimo (46, 48), Matagi (52), Sutcliffe (73)

Castleford Goals:Richardson (7/9)