Reserves Edge Past Leeds In Hard-Fought Clash

Reserves Edge Past Leeds In Hard-Fought Clash

Hull FC’s Reserves dug deep to defeat Leeds Rhinos Reserves

Match Report News

Logan Moy’s brace helped Hull FC Reserves defeat Leeds Rhinos Reserves 26-22 at the University of Hull this afternoon.

FC went into the break 16-6 ahead after Moy, Max Clarke and Lewis Martin tries provided a strong response to Tom Nicholson-Watt’s early opener for the visitors.

Leeds emerged from the interval with the bit between their teeth and they took the lead after quickfire tries from Zach McSwiney and Mackenzie Turner, but Jermarie Chatham and Moy hit back for the Black & Whites to make it a fourth consecutive win for Michael Shenton’s side.

The Match

Before Hull had even touched the ball in the match, Leeds punished Hull for conceding an early couple of penalties. Joe Sanderson slid in an awkward grubber kick, which ricocheted off the top of the post pad, falling kindly for Nicholson-Watt to dot down.

Shenton’s side showed plenty of grit to stay in the contest, though, and earned their first points of the afternoon after a quarter-of-an-hour as Moy dummied through the defensive line, pirouetting over the whitewash stylishly.

The Black & Whites hit the front for the first time in the game after 28 minutes and it was a try created purely by defensive determination. Leeds centre Mekhi Bridgeman was shepherded into touch as he set his sights on the try line and Hull went up the other end of the field and struck through Clarke’s powerful drive over the line.

Before the half was up, Martin added a third try for Hull as he demonstrated his athleticism to leap above Josh Milthorpe, claim a Sully Medforth kick and dot down in the left corner.

HALF-TIME: Hull 16-6 Rhinos

Leeds got the perfect start to the second half, and it was some early poor discipline that cost the Black & Whites dearly when Harrison Petrie was penalised for being offside. From the resulting penalty, McSwiney scooted over from dummy half, giving the Rhinos all the momentum they needed.

It was that momentum that helped Chev Walker’s side retake the lead 13 minutes into the second half as Shane Shann burst away from Chatham down the wing. The Leeds winger had fullback Turner backing up on the inside, and he was able to avoid Moy’s ankle-tap tackle attempt to score under the posts.

Once again, in the face of adversity, the Black & Whites provided another response. It was thanks to some lovely ball movement to the right edge between Callum Chapman-Peterson, Moy and Clarke, with the latter feeding Chatham to stroll in at the corner. Medforth couldn’t add the extras from the touchline and that left Hull with a slender 20-18 lead heading into the final quarter of the game.

The Rhinos had a chance to re-take the lead with ten minutes left, but Conner Gilbey and Lewis Martin combined strongly in defence to deny Liam Carr in the corner.

Gilbey then had a chance to put the Black & Whites further ahead at the other end, but he couldn’t take in Medforth’s cut-out pass as the centre fell over the try line.

Failing to execute big chances was catching on, and another opportunity went begging for the Rhinos, this time with just eight minutes left. Again, it was thanks to a never-say-die attitude to defending from Chatham to hold up Leo Aliyu after a barnstorming charge.

Moy was one of the standout performers for Hull this afternoon and he sealed the win by stretching out an arm to ground the ball on the white line with just four minutes remaining.

There was a consolation try for Leeds when Bridgeman powered over from close range, but it was too little, too late in the last minute, and Hull held out for a fourth straight win in the Reserves Championship.

FULL-TIME: Hull 26-22 Rhinos
Squads & Scorers

Hull: Moy, Chatham, Clarke, Gilbey, Martin, Rutland, Medforth, Gardiner, Chapman-Peterson, Thompson, Armstrong, Stewart, Gibson

Hull Interchanges: Bursell, Petrie, Richards, Trulson

Hull Tries: Moy (2), Clarke, Martin, Chatham

Hull Goals: Medforth (3/5)

Rhinos: Turner, Mitchell, Bridgeman, Carr, Millthorpe, Sanderson, Gill, Nicholson-Watt, Shaw, Snee, Salkeld, Gibbons, Field

Rhinos Interchanges: Aliyu, Brennan, McSwiney, Robinson

Rhinos Tries: Nicholson-Watt, McSwiney, Turner, Bridgeman

Rhinos Goals: Sanderson (3/4)