The Black & Whites returned to winning ways at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon with a seven try victory over Toulouse Olympique, despite being without 16 first-team players.
Hull ran out 38-12 winners in their penultimate game of the 2022 season, featuring braces from Harvey Barron and Mitieli Vulikijapani, as well as scores from Ellis Longstaff, Jordan Lane on his 100th career appearance, and Will Gardiner on his home debut.
Hull ran into a 24-0 lead after just 25 minutes, and while it took them another forty minutes to get on the board, scored three more times in the closing stages to seal a comprehensive victory over the now relegated French outfit.
Team News
Having only being able to name a 19-man squad after Kane Evans (knee), Connor Wynne (Achilles), and Brad Fash (suspension) all dropped out following Thursday’s fixture against Salford, Brett Hodgson brought in three fresh faces for the clash.
Cameron Scott returned from a groin injury that has left him out of action for several months, while Harvey Barron and Matty Laidlaw aome back into the match day squad.
Reserves prop Will Gardiner, who made his senior debut against Salford, made his first senior start for the Airlie Birds at loose-forward.
Alongside Evans, Wynne, and Fash, Hull are without Manu Ma’u (arm), Joe Lovodua (knee), Danny Houghton (quad), Adam Swift (leg), Carlos Tuimavave (Achilles), Josh Griffin (quad), Darnell McIntosh (foot), Andre Savelio (knee), Joe Cator (Achilles), Jack Brown (shoulder), Jack Walker (foot), Charlie Severs (shoulder), and Rising Star Callum Rutland – some sixteen unavailable players meaning the Airlie Birds.
The Match
Hull opened the scoring just before the ten minute mark when Jake Connor’s cut-out pass found Harvey Barron on the right edge, allowing him to race over for his first try on home soil for the senior side. Connor converted.
Barron made it a double just six minutes later; Hull attacked their right edge straight from a scrum in the Toulouse half, and Connor added a second assist of the afternoon with a short pass out the back allowing the winger to go over in space. Connor made it two with the boot.
FC continued a dominant start when Will Gardiner went over on his home debut just before the twenty minute mark, taking a pass out of dummy-half from Jordan Johnstone close to the line to go over unopposed. Connor made it three.
And Brett Hodgson’s side made it four with another attacking move down the right, as well as a third assist of the afternoon for Jake Connor as Mitieli Vulikijapni broke away from the half-way line, and had the pace to finish off a lovely move. Connor made it four successful kicks.
Half-Time: Hull FC 24-0 Toulouse Olympique
There was little to report in the third quarter of the game, with errors getting the best of both sides.
Toulouse got themselves on the board with 20 minutes to play as Guy Artimage powered through a gap in the Hull line. Hankinson converted.
Hull hit back though when Jake Connor put a lovely chip over the top for Harvey Barron to collect, with a simple pass to Ellis Longstaff to touch down for FC’s fifth of the afternoon.
FC had their sixth when Jordan Lane ran a superb line to fire through the Toulouse defensive line and score on his 100th career appearance. Connor added the goal.
Toulouse added a second try though before the close of play, with a break down their right edge allowing Ilias Bergal to show his pace to finish off and score.
But there was still time for Hull to add a seventh, and a second long-range effort from Mitieli Vulikijapani – Jordan Johnstone picked up a loose ball and fed the Fijian back allowing him to race from the halfway line to score under the sticks.
Full-Time: Hull FC 38-12 Toulouse Olympique
Squads:
Hull FC: Jake Connor, Davy Litten, Cameron Scott, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Harvey Barron, Will Smith, Luke Gale, Ligi Sao, Jordan Johnstone, Scott Taylor, Jordan Lane, Ellis Longstaff, Will Gardiner.
Interchange: Chris Satae, Ben McNamara, Denive Balmforth, Matty Laidlaw.
Toulouse:Olly Ashall-Bott, Ilias Bergal, Paul Marcon, Guy Amritage, Latrell Schaumkel, Chris Hankinson, James Cunningham, Romain Navarrete, Nathan Peats, Daniel Alvaro, Joe Bretherton, Dom Peyroux, Joseph Paulo.
Interchange: Harrison Hansen, Eloi Pelissier, Justin Sangare, Lambert Belmas.
Scorers:
Hull FC Tries: Barron (9, 15), Gardiner (18), Vulikijapani (25, 77), Longstaff (65), Lane (68)
Hull FC Goals: Connor (5/6), Johnstone (0/1)
Toulouse Tries: Armitage (61), Bergal (74)
Toulouse Goals: Hankinson (2/2)
Official Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 8785
Campbell Engineering Man of the Match: Harvey Barron
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