Ryan Hall’s last-minute try subjected Hull FC to a 18-16 defeat at the hands of Leeds Rhinos, the Black & Whites’ fourth straight loss.
Lewis Martin and Sam Eseh crossed to put Hull into a 10-0 lead, but James McDonnell reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time.
Harvey Barron reinstated Hull’s two-score cushion early in the second-half, but the Rhinos rallied, with tries from Tom Holroyd, Riley Lumb and Hall securing an important win for Brad Arthur’s side.
Team News
John Cartwright named an unchanged starting lineup to the one that faced Huddersfield at Magic Weekend.
The only change to the side was Brad Fash replacing Yusuf Aydin on the bench, completing his return from injury.
The Match
Both sides completed their early sets well, kicking long and testing the fullbacks. The first chance went Hull’s way though off the back of a penalty, but they couldn’t really test the defence. Leeds then had their first chance after a penalty. A teasing kick from croft went Newman’s way but the bounce favoured Hull and Lewis Martin.
A six-again call helped Leeds into good field position after ten minutes. A cross field kick was sent towards Riley Lumb on the last, but he knocked it forward into Harvey Barron. Lumb then looked to be away on the next set after a superb pass from Handley but another handling error returned possession to FC.
Hull had a huge opportunity after fifteen minutes, starting their set on the Leeds thirty-metre line. Sezer’s kick was fumbled, and FC won a repeat set but no one could find a route to the try line.
The Black & Whites had the better of things over the next ten minutes, with Chamberlain being held up just short of the line and having a lot of good ball near the Rhinos line.
Leeds had another two good chances with twenty-five minutes gone. Lumb was at the centre of them both, but Barron had the match of his opposite number on each occasion.
A knock on from Leeds a few minutes later provided Hull with a big opportunity chance to post the opening score though and they made it count. Straight from the scrum, Pryce darted towards the left corner before sending a simple pass to Martin to score.
Brad Arthur’s side had a great chance to hit back a few minutes later. Jarrod O’Connor looked to have scooted over from dummy half but was denied by the video referee for a knock on. Repeat errors then helped FC up field for another huge scoring opportunity. Halfway through the set, Sam Eseh crashed over the line from close range to extend Hull’s lead. Sezer was on target with the boot.
A knock on with a minute to go in the half gave the Rhinos a chance to strike back late and they did so. James McDonnell gathered a short pass and ran hard at the Hull line to score. Miller missed the conversion.
Half-Time: Leeds Rhinos 4-10 Hull FC
The Airlie Birds had a huge early chance off the back of pushing Lumb into touch. The away side managed to force a repeat set. A skewed kick from Pryce bounced off the uprights, but landed in the arms of Hardaker, and some good play meant the ball found Harvey Barron for a brilliant try. Sezer nailed the conversion.
Hull went close again five minutes later. Sezer’s towering kick was won by Litten, but he couldn’t keep hold of the ball. A repeat set then helped the hosts down field, before Tom Holroyd barged his way over from close range. Miller’s conversion was on target.
Leeds capitalised on some chaos at the end of their set a few minutes later and went close to levelling the scores through Ash Handley too, but Hardaker recovered well.
A huge break from Cust got Hull in more good field position with twenty minutes to go. Cartwright’s side won back to back repeat sets and Ese’ese was held up but a charge down from James Bentley on the last saw the Rhinos survive.
Leeds had a chance to level the scores with just under fifteen minutes on the clock. The Rhinos chose to run it on the last and went through the hands to Riley Lumb who grounded the ball in the corner. Miller’s conversion was unsuccessful, meaning Hull remained in front by two.
Brad Arthur’s team looked to go back-to-back. A wayward pass damaged their cause before a Croft grubber early in the tackle count was easily dealt with by Barron. FC then had a massive chance to score, starting a set inside Leeds’ half after a knock on. Sezer sent a cutout ball to Martin, but he was tackled on his way back inside before an error returned possession to the hosts.
With five minutes to go, Connor attempted a 40/20 but his kick went out on the full, giving Hull another big opportunity. Asiata attempted a grubber on the last and Leeds regathered. A huge set from the Rhinos saw them race up field. The Rhinos ran it on the last play just ten metres out from the tryline. A cutout ball found Ryan Hall who dived over in the corner. Connor dragged the conversion wide.
Hull went short from the kick off but couldn’t regather, confirming victory for the Rhinos.
Full-Time: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC
Squads & Scorers
Leeds Rhinos: Lachlan Miller, Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Riley Lumb, Jake Connor, Brodie Croft, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Keenan Palasia, James McDonnell, Morgan Gannon, Kallum Watkins.
Leeds Rhinos Interchanges: Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd, James Bentley, Cameron Smith.
Leeds Rhinos 18th Man: Cooper Jenkins.
Leeds Rhinos Tries: McDonnell (39), Holroyd (50), Lumb (66), Hall (78)
Leeds Rhinos Conversions: Miller (51)
Hull FC: Will Pryce, Harvey Barron, Jordan Rapana, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin, Cade Cust, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Liam Knight, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, John Asiata.
Hull FC Interchanges: Tom Briscoe, Sam Eseh Jr, Jack Ashworth, Brad Fash.
Hull FC 18th Man: Denive Balmforth.
Hull FC Tries: Martin (29), Eseh (36), Barron (44)
Hull FC Conversions: Sezer (37, 45)
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