The Black & Whites were dealt a major blow in their hunt to reach the Betfred Super League Play-Offs, with John Cartwright’s side well-beaten at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Airlie Birds went down 34-0 as the Rhinos dominated proceedings for the final hour of the contest.
The Rhinos put in an electric attacking display before half-time, and shut up shop in defence as FC failed to get on the scoreboard, losing both Herman Ese’ese and Ed Chamberlain to injury during the contest.
Team News
John Cartwright made one change to the side that lined-up against St Helens last weekend, with Liam Watts returning to the side in place of Jed Cartwright, who misses out with a pectoral injury.
Zak Hardaker started the game at full-back in what was his 400th career appearance.
Will Pryce, Ligi Sao, John Asiata, Sam Eseh, and Liam Knight remain unavailable through injury.
The Match
After a closely fought opening quarter in which both sides traded early blows, it was Leeds who opened the scoring in the 21st minute; Ryan Hall found himself in wide open space when he took a pass on the right edge to stroll over in the corner. Connor converted the kick.
Leeds doubled their advantage just five minutes later, making the most of Hull’s restart going out on the full, when a high ball into the in-goal was patted down into the arms of Kallum Watkins – Connor added the two points.
Leeds added misery to Hull’s first half display when Jake Connor intercepted a stray pass from Brad Fash on the half-way line, and raced away to score under the sticks. He kicked a third goal.
Hull were dealt blows when they lost both Herman Ese’ese and Ed Chamberlain to injuries.
Matters went from bad to worse for the home side when Morgan Gannon picked up a short ball close to the HUll line with four minutes left in the half and glided through the Hull line. Connor converted.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-24 Leeds Rhinos
Leeds started the second-half as they ended the first – on the front foot. Jarred O’Connor’s break in the FC half five minutes after the restart was the spark for the Rhinos fifth try, finding Brodie Croft in support who showed some fine footwork to finish the move and get over the line. Connor kicked a fifth goal.
The Rhinos continued their firm defence as the game headed into the final quarter, with Hull denied any real opportunity to attack the Leeds line.
Hull then lost Harvey Barron to a head injury, before a long stoppage in play as Rhinos centre Max Simpson went down after a heavy collision with Jordan Rapana – the young centre left the field on a stretcher after being tended to by medical staff from both clubs for around ten minutes.
James McDonnell added a sixth try for the visitors with ten minutes remaining in the contest, slicing through Hull’s goal-line defence.
Full-Time: Hull FC – Leeds Rhinos
Squads:
Hull FC: Hardaker, Barron, Rapana, Litten, Martin, Cust, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Watts, Chamberlain, Lane, Aydin.
Interchange: Briscoe, Ashworth, Fash, Laidlaw
18th Man: Gardiner
Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Hall, Newman, Simpson, Hankinson, Croft, Connor, Cassell, O’Connor, Oledski, Gannon, McDonnell, Watkins.
Interchange: Bentley, Lisone, Jenkins, Shorrocks.
18th Man: Ackers
Scorers:
Hull FC Tries: –
Hull FC Goals: –
Leeds Rhinos Tries: Hall (21), Watkins (26), Connor (32), Gannon (36), Croft (45), McDonnell (70)
Leeds Rhinos Goals: Connor (5/6)
Attendance, in association with Garbutts: 12,020
Rowe Freight Man of the Match: Zak Hardaker
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