Hull FC Under 16s put in a clinical display to defeat Huddersfield Giants’ Scholarship side 34-22 at Laund Hill, securing their first win of the season.
A pair of braces for Jackson Smith and Finlay Davies in the first-half put Hull in control at the break.
Early second-half scores from Alex Batty and Lewis Ells-Fontana on their Scholarship debuts proved to be enough to secure the win for the Black & Whites, who had to stave off a late Huddersfield fight back.
The Match
In the worst possible start, Hull conceded a penalty from the first tackle of the match. Having defended the full set, the ball was spilled following the turnover and Huddersfield fullback Lewis Jagger peeled out of the back to open the scoring inside two minutes.
But determined to fight their way back into the contest early on, Hull posted their first points of the evening, aided by a penalty and a six-again. A probing move to the left came to no avail, but when Kingsley Sharpe returned to a central position, his flat pass allowed Smith to open FC’s account at Laund Hill.
Hull quickly doubled their points tally, all thanks to some free-flowing Rugby League, this time down the right channel. Andrew McCracken managed to earn himself a quick play-the-ball and the electric Davies darted over from dummy-half – the retreating Huddersfield defenders helpless.
Despite the Giants wrestling some control of the match back, they were powerless to stop Smith barging over for his second. The forward ran onto the ball at such power and pace that the momentum allowed him to get within an outstretched arm’s-length of scoring.
A Hull FC Scholarship side with their tails up having scored a third try was the last thing Huddersfield wanted. But that’s what they got. Josh Horne’s towering kick was spilled by Saul Thompson – when FC packed the scrum, they demonstrated maturity and patience to hold their nerve and pull the trigger later in the set with a burrowing effort from Davies.
But a soft error from the Black & Whites was enough of an invitation to keep the Giants interested, and Hull’s period of dominance drew to a shuddering halt with Francis Appleyard allowed to crash over at first-receiver.
On the stroke of half-time Jack Twigg’s crossfield kick was plucked out of the air by Harvey Barker, rising highest above Zak Nelson-Hewitt to score another for the hosts.
HALF-TIME: Giants Scholars 12-22 Hull Scholars
An opportunity to regroup and collect thoughts at half-time was just what Hull needed after a frantic end to the first-half.
The break served the Black & Whites well, and they pulled clear of their West Yorkshire counterparts once again when Batty took control of the play, finding Caleb Paleaaesina on his left shoulder and then pushing up on the inside when the back-rower made the break.
As the second-half progressed, Hull were looking good value for the win, despite losing halfbacks Josh Horne to concussion and Alex Batty to a rib knock.
It was the next replacement halfback, Ellis Chapman, who was the key orchestrator of FC’s sixth try of the night. His well-placed box kick put Alfie Farrar under pressure – Thomas Cheshire was there to pounce on the dropped ball and he provided the assist for Ells-Fontana to slide over the whitewash on his maiden Scholarship appearance.
But with over fifteen minutes on the clock, Hull still had to keep their wits about them. And they were given a big wake-up call when Barker set up Daniel Shepherd to finish off a tidy move.
Barker, one of the standout players for the hosts, crossed the whitewash for a second time as he took in Jagger’s pass, taking advantage of the overlap.
But despite a late rally from Huddersfield, Hull managed to dig deep to keep the Giants at bay, holding on for their first victory of the season.
FULL-TIME: Giants Scholars 22-34 Hull Scholars
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Eccles, Yorke, Hayward, Cheshire, Nelson-Hewitt, Sharpe, Horne, Smith, Davies, Kassim, Paleaaesina, Edwards, McCracken.
Hull Interchanges: Batty, Boulter, Cass, Chapman, Donnachie, Ells-Fontana, Mortimer
Hull Tries: Smith (2), Davies (2), Batty, Ells-Fontana
Hull Goals: Davies (5/6)
Giants: Jagger, Farrar, Barker, Hall, Thompson, Twigg, Potter, Bottomley, Jackson, Gale, Appleyard, Toohey, Jones
Giants Interchanges: Hanson, Hobson, Jackman, Lyne, Shepherd, Staveley, Thompson
Giants Tries: Farrar, Appleyard, Barker (2), Shepherd
Giants Goals: Potter (0/3), Jackson (1/2)
STORY SPONSOR
