A disappointing opening round display from the Black and Whites saw them fall to Derby Day defeat against the Robins.
Red cards for Ligi Sao and Franklin Pele, as well as injury to Joe Cator, rubbed salt into FC’s wounds as KR scored four in West Hull.
Team News
Tony Smith handed six competitive debuts out this evening. Morgan Smith, Herman Ese’ese, Franklin Pele, Jayden Okunbor and Fa’amanu Brown all made the starting line-up and Jack Ashworth started from the bench. The returning Jack Walker started, making his second debut for the club.
Young winger Lewis Martin made his second competitive appearance for the Black and Whites.
Tony Smith’s side were without Liam Tindall, Carlos Tuimavave, and Brad Fash, through injury.
Liam Sutcliffe dropped out through illness in the warm-up, and was replaced by 18th man Davy Litten.
The Match
The game started strongly for Hull, with Pele flattening a KR defender and Okunbor nearly forcing his way through a few plays later. However, it was the Robins with the first real chance of the game. The visitors got the overlap on the right hand side and a valiant effort in defence from Jack Walker was not enough to keep Niall Evalds out. Hiku was way wide of the mark with the conversion, but Hull KR led after seven minutes.
Some strong legs drove FC into a position of menace five minutes later. A swirling kick from Nu Brown was just too long for Okunbor to take in a promising looking attack. The next set however, Tony Smith’s side were reduced to 12 men, with Ese’ese seeing yellow for a high tackle.
The Robins extended their lead after 17 minutes with Tanginoa charging through the line but Hiku missed the kick again.
The Black and Whites had a good spell a few sets later. Good passing play from right to left saw Okunbor nearly pierce his way through the line. Nu Brown then forced a knock on from ex-Hull man Jez Litten on the next set. Some strong defence and errors from Willie Peters’ team saw Hull enjoy a good spell of possession deep in the Robins half, and pressure nearly telled when Hiku knocked on and conceded a drop out.
An unbelievable tackle from Morgan Smith stopped Hull KR extending their lead with 5 minutes to go in the half, but on the following set, Mikey Lewis reached out to extend their lead and Hiku this time converted.
The last play of the half saw Franklin Pele sent off for Hull for a swinging arm in the tackle on Elliot Minchella.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-14 Hull KR
Rovers started the second half on the front foot. However, pressure from Ese’ese saw Evalds drop Lewis’ looping pass. On the next KR attack, Scott dragged down Gildart and forced an error similar to that of Evalds’. A knock on from Hiku on his own line brought an end to KR’s dominance at the start of the half.
Both sides traded set for set around the 50th minute, with most of the play happening around the middle of the park. A number of good strong runs from Okunbor were not enough to break the line for Hull. The Robins looked close to breaking the trend when Gildart kicked and chased the loose ball. Lewis Martin managed to get a boot to the ball to nullify the threat.
However, Hull KR managed to extend their lead after 58 minutes through Parcell. Hiku couldn’t convert.
Hull FC got a good spell with the ball following the try. Two Rovers knock-ons gifted Hull FC the ball, before Evalds knocked on ten metres from his own line. Okunbor went close after taking a short ball from Sao, before Lane was held up. Lewis Martin looked to have a chance before cutting back inside under pressure from Willie Peter’s men.
Hiku failed to kick a penalty on the 70th minute, and then KR conceded a penalty giving Hull field position once again. FC went close again, as Hall beat McIntosh to the high kick, resulting in a repeat set.
The next set saw the visitors reduced to 12 with Matt Parcell seeing yellow and Hull FC having Ligi Sao sent off and being reduced to 11.
Evalds conceded a drop out with five minutes to go. Great pressure on the next set saw Hall concede a drop out too. A teasing kick from Brown was defused by Hiku with two minutes to go.
The last act of the half saw Hull KR score a long range try through Niall Evalds, which wasn’t converted.
Full Time: Hull FC 0-22 Hull KR
Squads
Hull FC: Jack Walker, Darnell McIntosh, Cam Scott, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin, Morgan Smith, Fa’amanu Brown, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Houghton, Franklin Pele, Jayden Okunbor, Ligi Sao, Joe Cator.
Interchanges: Jack Ashworth, Jack Brown, Tex Hoy, Jordan Lane.
18th Man: Will Gardiner
Hull KR: Peta Hiku, Niall Evalds, Tom Opacic, Oliver Gildart, Ryan Hall, Tyrone May, Mikey Lewis, Dean Hadley, Jez Litten, Jai Whitbread, Kelepi Tanginoa, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.
Interchanges: Sauaso Sue, George King, Matt Parcell, Yusuf Aydin.
18th Man: Corey Hall
The Scorers:
Hull FC Tries: –
Hull FC Conversions: –
Hull KR Tries: Evalds (7, 79), Tanginoa (17), Lewis (36), Parcell (58)
Hull KR Conversions: Hiku (36)
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