Hull FC travelled with a severely understrength side to the South of France but were able to come away with the two points thanks to a dominant second half performance at Stade Ernest-Wallon.
First half tries from Josh Simm and Ellis Longstaff gave Hull a four point lead at the break, hitting back from James Cunningham’s opener.
However, the Black & Whites dominated after the break, and tries for debutants Will Smith & Harvey Barron, as well as a first of the season for Jack Brown were enough to give Hull the two points.
Team News
Brett Hodgson was forced into three changes from the side that faced Castleford Tigers last time out, with Connor Wynne and Ligi Sao picking up suspensions in the fixture and Joe Lovodua missing his first game of the season through illness.
Coming into the side were Will Smith and Harvey Barron for their debuts, whilst Matty Laidlaw returned to the interchange bench for just his third career appearance.
The meant Brett Hodgson named a much changed side, featuring just seven of the club’s squad numbers 1 – 17.
A major reshuffle for Hodgson meant that Jake Connor was named at centre for the first time since March 2020, with Will Smith named at half back and Jack Walker retaining his place at full back.
Sylvain Houles also made several changes from Toulouse’s last outing, with Matty Russell, Justin Sangare and Justin Paulo dropping out of the side.
Hull FC Academy product James Cunningham was a beneficiary for the French side, starting the game at Loose Forward.
The Match
An even first half was played out at the Stade Ernest-Woolon, though Hull FC headed in to the changing rooms at the break four points to the good, thanks to tries from loanees Josh Simm & Ellis Longstaff after James Cunningham’s early try put the hosts in front.
The first chance of the half came Hull’s way, as Jake Connor’s quick hands released Darnell McIntosh down the right hand side, but the winger chose to take the tackle himself when a pass to the supporting Ellis Longstaff was perhaps the more attacking option.
Toulouse grew into the game, and struck first through former Hull man James Cunningham. Josh Simm dropped a yardage carry under pressure from Toulouse defenders, and Cunningham was alert to the loose ball and able to find the in goal area with the attention from several Hull men.
It didn’t take long for the Black & Whites to strike back. A smart grubber kick from Jake Connor forced a goal line drop out, which Scott Taylor and then Brad Fash carried deep into Toulouse territory. Hull got the ball out wide, and Jake Connor, sweeping round in a traditional full back position, found a pass to Josh Simm for a walk in in the corner, which Luke Gale converted from the touchline to draw the tie level.
Not long after Hull took the lead. Jack Walker was tackled by offside kick chasers which moved Hull into good field position. Mitieli Vulikijapani carried the ball deep into French territory but was stopped just shy of the line. The Black & Whites moved the ball to the other edge, and Will Smith’s kick went through the legs of a Toulouse man to the onrushing Ellis Longstaff to score.
Toulouse had the final real chance of the half, but Corey Norman’s ambitious pass to Ilias Bergal was forward when Sylvain Houles men had a huge numerical advantage on the Hull right.
Half Time: Toulouse Olympique 6 – 10 Hull FC
Second Half
Hull began the second half with some real intent, forcing three repeat sets on the Toulouse line, and although the Toulouse defence held firm, that was to set the tone for the rest of the half.
The breakthrough in the half came as Toulouse were reduced to twelve men, Antony Marion was sin binned for a nasty looking cannonball tackle on Jordan Johnstone, who was forced off the field for further assessment.
The try came from debutant Will Smith, who took a composed pass from Jack Walker before racing under the posts, with Walker set away from a nice offload by Kane Evans.
Hull scored back to back tries a set later, Jack Brown barging his way over for his first of the season after Mitieli Vulikijapani evaded several French defenders and found a smart offload to the Academy graduate to score his second try in the South of France!
Luke Gale kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty goal from 35 meters out, awarded after a Toulouse man pushed out in the tackle, whilst in possession.
The final try of the night was perhaps the most welcome, as the second debutant of the evening Harvey Barron crossed in the corner, an acrobatic finish allowing him to ground a bouncing ball after a neat kick by Jake Connor!
Full Time: Toulouse Olympique 6 – 30 Hull FC
The Line Ups:
Toulouse Olympique: Olly Ashall-Bott, Paul Macron Matthieu Jussaume, Chris Hankinson, Ilias Bergal, Corey Norman, Tony Gigon, Romain Navarrete, Nathan Peats, Lambert Belmas, Dominique Peyroux, Joe Bretherton, James Cunningha; Anthony Marion, Harrison Hansen, Lucas Albert, Maxime Peuch
Hull FC: Jack Walker, Darnell McIntosh, Jake Connor, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Josh Simm, Will Smith, Luke Gale, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Kane Evans, Ellis Longstaff, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash; Harvey Barron, Jack Brown, Jordan Johnstone, Matty Laidlaw
The Scorers:
Toulouse Olympique: James Cunningham | Chris Hankinson 1/1
Hull FC: Josh Simm, Ellis Longstaff, Will Smith, Jack Brown, Harvey Barron | Luke Gale 5/6
Campbell Engineering Man of the Match:
Attendance, in association with Garbutts: 4238
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