Elliot Middlemas scored a sensational second-half brace to help Hull FC Academy defeat Wakefield Trinity Under 18s 38-20 at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.
First-half tries from Kieran Calvert and Finley Wilson kept Hull in the contest, but at 20-10 ahead in the second-half, Wakefield were in total control.
However, the Black & Whites turned on the style with 25 minutes to go, with Middlemas running in a brilliant double, and Lloyd Kemp, Finlay Davies and Tom Cheshire helping the visitors on their way to an impressive second-half comeback win.
The Match
Wakefield got an early opportunity deep in FC’s half. Will Hardie scooted over from close range for the opening score. Cummins converted the try. Errors saw them confined deep inside Hull territory for the next few minutes, but Lloyd Kemp recovered for FC on a few occasions.
Hull had their first chance after ten minutes with Middlemas on the break but good defence kept him out. The Black and Whites would score next though, capitalising an error, with Kieran Calvert touching down. Kemp dragged the conversion wide. FC went back-to-back with Finley Wilson finishing off a superb break from Middlemas and Kemp added the extras.
The game became quite scrappy over the next ten minutes, with FC just having the better of things. Wakefield did go cloest to scoring next, but great scrambling defence and a great one on one tackle from Middlemas kept Trinity at bay.
Wakefield built up a head of steam around the half-hour mark and made pressure tell, will Thompson barging over from close range. Cummins hit the post with the kick. An incredible tackle from Swyer stopped Trinity from going back-to-back.
Trinity scored another try five minutes from time, scoring to the right of the uprights through Will Hardie. Cummins converted from dead in front.
The away side thought they’d equalised a few minutes later but were penalised for offside. Wakefield then raced down field and got a chance to kick for two, but were unsuccessful, bringing a close to the half.
Half-Time: Trinity Academy 16-10 Hull Academy
Trinity made an error in their first set, gifting Hull great field position. The Black and Whites went close through Middlemas but couldn’t ground the ball.
Calvert looked to have denied Wakefield a great breakaway try, but Noah Kershaw got over on the next play to stretch the Wakefield lead. Cummins’ conversion fell short.
FC went dangerously close through Middlemas once more on the fifty minute mark but the kick was just ahead of him. Hull didn’t have to wait long for the try though, with Lloyd Kemp darting through a gap to score. The conversion was wide.
Errors were plentiful over the next ten minutes, with both sides struggling to gain the upper hand. A great defensive set saw Hull start their set in the Trinity half. Thompson went close to drawing FC back level in the best attack of the period.
Trinity got a repeat set on the Airlie Birds line with twenty minutes to go and looked to be about to score a certain try, but good pressure from FC’s middles forced a knock on. On the next set, Middlemas ran from his own twenty metre line to score an absolutely incredible solo try. Horne’s conversion brought Hull back level.
Kemp managed to stop Wakefield retaking the lead two minutes later before FC raced down field for a chance of their own which they took superbly. Middlemas claimed the bomb on the last and turned past Tommy Law for his second try. Horne’s kick bounced off both the crossbar and post and in.
FC went back-to-back, with a break down centre field finished off by Davies to extend the Black and White lead. Horne knocked over the conversion. Middlemas nearly got over for his hat trick about five minutes from the hooter. Tom Cheshire managed to dive over from close range for the final act of the game. Horne converted the try.
Full-Time: Trinity Academy 20-38 Hull Academy
Squads & Scorers
Trinity: Brook, Law, Barnes, Kershaw, Knight, Cummins, Stephenson, Lingard, Hardie, Briggs, Molyneux, Clegg, Thompson.
Trinity Interchanges: Ashman, McLelland, Powell, Rowse
Trinity Tries: Hardie (2), Thompson, Kershaw
Trinity Goals: Cummins (1/4)
Hull: L Kemp, Eccles, Hayward, Cheshire, Middlemas, Horne, Thompson, Goodhand, Swyer, Turner, Wilson, Calvert, Shepherdson.
Hull Interchanges: Davies, Kassim, Power, Smith
Hull Tries: Calvert, Wilson, Kemp, Middlemas (2), Davies, Cheshire
Hull Goals: Kemp (1/2), Thompson (4/5)
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