Last’s depleted FC make Rhinos battle all the way
BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE THE SPOILS AT HEADINGLEY
Hull FC were unable to build on a promising start as they went down 40-22 to Leeds Rhinos. The depleted Black and Whites stepped in at the 11th hour but defied their lack of preparation time to produce a committed and spirited performance.
Reporter James O’brien delivers the verdict from Headingley.
Analysis
Hull returned to the scene of their round one win against the same opposition but it is a different world now.
The first UK coronavirus cases were reported two days before Lee Radford’s FC cruised to victory at Headingley in early February, yet there was no hint of the madness to come.
Andy Last took the reins in March and has had to deal with more adversity y in seven months than his predecessor faced in seven years.
Last has been tasked with leading the club through a global pandemic and unprecedented challenges.
He was given a hospital pass late on Wednesday night and getting a team out with less than 24 hours’ notice and 13 players y unavailable was an achievement in itself.
The decision to step in may well have ended their play-off chances but Hull put the sport first and the selfless act has not gone unnoticed.
By contrast in-form Leeds were close to full strength and the home side despite the fixture list saying y g otherwise. Everything was stacked in their favour but it was Hull who started like the team that had all week to prepare.
Mahe Fonua opened the scoring on his 150th career appearance with a powerful finish from Jake
Connor’s nicely y disguised g flat pass p and FC had a golden opportunity when Richie Myler was sin-binned on the back of a superb break by C Cameron Scott.
Andre Savelio punished Myler by p planting the ball down with the R Rhinos on the back foot and Hull were 10-0 up when Marc Sneyd added the extras.
The Black and Whites would have been in full control had Bureta Faraimo touched down Sneyd’s kick into the in-goal area but the winger knocked on and Leeds slowly worked their way into the game.
Jack Walker got the Rhinos on the board after Ash Handley patted back Luke Gale’s hanging kick and the West Yorkshire side went back to back.
Leeds moved the ball out to the left where Handley produced a powerful finish to draw Leeds level.
The momentum was with the Rhinos all of a sudden and they went into half-time in front courtesy of Walker’s second try from Matt Prior’s offload.
The Airlie Birds needed to score f first in the second half but Leeds went over for quick-fire tries and the game appeared to be over as a contest.
James Donaldson took advantage of poor defence close to the line before Handley backed up Brad Dwyer’s break for his second.
FC needed some inspiration from somewhere and Connor provided it, shifting the momentum with a speculative pass close to his own line before thumping a 40/20.
Josh Griffin’s strong finish handed
Hull a lifeline and the comeback was well and truly on when Jack Brown powered his way over on the back of another 40/20 by Sneyd.
But FC were unable to maintain their momentum and the Rhinos secured the victory when Liam Sutcliffe touched down from Gale’s kick. Handley rubbed salt in FC wounds when he picked off
Connor’s pass nearly halfway and raced away to complete his hattrick.
Key moment
Hull dominated the first quarter against an out-of-sorts Leeds and should have gone 14-0 up when Sneyd’s kick bounced into Faraimo’s path, only for the winger to knock on and give the Rhinos a route back into the game.
Good day – Hull
FC copped plenty of criticism in August when they became the first club to be hit by an outbreak but events since have put that into perspective. The Black and Whites have received praise from all directions for stepping up at late notice and were winners last night regardless of the result.
Bad day – Josh Bowden
The prop has had rotten luck with injuries and he was forced off with what appeared to be a shoulder issue.
The bigger picture
The Airlie Birds take on Huddersfield Giants on Tuesday before heading home for a game against Castleford five days later. Last’s side face a trip to Perpignan the following Thursday but playing Leeds early means they will now have seven days to prepare for the derby at the end of the month.