Hull FC Reserves put in a classy performance to defeat Bradford Bulls Reserves 62-12 at the University of Hull this afternoon, making it back-to-back wins at the start of the campaign.
Manoa Wacokecoke and Harvey Barron contributed seven of Hull’s eleven tries, whilst Jude Ferreira claimed a brace.
Will Gardiner and Kane Evans, who both started the match in the front-row, got FC’s other two tries on an afternoon where Michael Shenton’s side posted another comprehensive victory.
The Match
It didn’t take long for Hull to open their account for the afternoon. Some tidy offloads opened up some space down the left edge and Wacokecoke coasted through for his first try of the day.
The early try got Hull’s tails up and they crossed for a second try when Jeylan Hodgson put Evans through a gaping hole for the big Fijian to stroll over under the posts.
As Bradford were in the Academy meeting with Hull last week, the visitors once again displayed their resilience and responded when Myles Lawford’s chipped kick was claimed by Todd Horner to score.
But the visitors dropped the kick-off restart and from the resulting scrum, lovely set play sent Barron in at the right corner with ease.
Despite frustrating the coaching staff by conceding a couple of early seven tackle sets, Mackenzie Harman’s confidence did not wane in the early stages and his outstanding pass allowed Wacokecoke to canter over the whitewash for his second try on the half-hour mark.
Hull extended their lead seven minutes before the break thanks to more smart play from Harman, as his well-measured kick to the corner was assertively claimed on the full by Barron.
HALF-TIME: Hull Reserves 26-6 Bulls Reserves
A sloppy start to the second-half cost Hull a second try early on. The defenders couldn’t get a grip of the ball as former Hull player Jansin Turgut offloaded and Aidan Scully picked up to cut the deficit to fourteen points.
Managing the next stage of the game would prove pivotal for how the remainder of the match panned out, and Hull’s resolute defence was rewarded with a try at the other end of the field. Despite Bradford’s protestations that Harman’s long-range pass had drifted forwards, referee Carl Hughes pointed to the spot as Ferreira latched onto the ball and dotted down.
Hull were back in their groove and crossed for their seventh try of the day when Academy halfback Sully Medforth tipped the ball back on the inside for powerhouse forward Gardiner to crash over the line.
A pair of hat-tricks put the cherry on top of the cake for Shenton’s side. First, Wacokecoke rose highest to claim a Harman kick and dot down, before Barron swept up a teasing Lawford grubber kick into FC’s in-goal area, racing 100 metres down the field to score under the uprights.
The Fijian outside back wasn’t just settling for three, however. A Logan Moy break may have been cut down by George Flanagan Jr 20 metres out, but the ball was shifted left and Medforth’s kick to the corner was grounded by Wacokecoke in the nick of time.
Oozing with class, the Black & Whites got through the 60-point threshold after a number of offloads. The ball then went through the hands of Leon Stewart and Barron, with Ferreira coasting in at the right corner.
FULL-TIME: Hull Reserves 62-12 Bulls Reserves
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Shaul, Barron, McIntosh, Wacokecoke, Martin, Harman, Medforth, Evans, Hodgson, Gardiner, Jebson, Ferreira, Armstrong
Hull Interchanges: Bursell, Moy, Stewart, Thompson
Hull Tries: Wacokecoke (4), Evans, Barron (3), Ferreira (2), Gardiner
Hull Goals: Harman (9/11)
Bulls: Flanagan Jr, Scurr, Horner, Myers, Adams, Lawford, Ackroyd, Green, Barraclough, Turgut, Dyne, Scully, Magson
Bulls Interchanges: Arnold, Badham, Grey, Holmes
Bulls Tries: Horner, Scully
Bulls Goals: Flanagan Jr (2/2)
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