Top-four dreams still alive as Sneyd boots FC to win
NERVY FINISH AS GIANTS ARE TOUGH NUT TO CRACK
Hull FC kept their very faint hopes of reaching the play-offs alive at the Halliwell Jones Stadium as they saw off Huddersfield Giants 18-16. Here’s the verdict.
Analysis
Despite being second best comfortably in their last outing against Leeds Rhinos on Thursday night, it was clear Hull were in a confident mood from the start at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
With Jake Connor and Marc
Sneyd combining well to pull the strings, they dominated the early stages and within 10 minutes they were celebrating taking the lead.
It stemmed from Ashton Golding’s inability to take in a spiralling g Connor kick and from there, Hull spread the ball wide to allow Ratu Naulago to squeeze over in the corner under pressure from Sam Wood.
Hull were pushing for a second and deft kicks from Sneyd and Jordan Johnstone forced Huddersfield to concede goal g line drop outs, but they couldn’t find the opening needed to extend their lead.
Josh Griffin thought he was over close to the 30-minute mark, only to see play pulled back for a obstruction and Huddersfield made Hull py pay as they y went up p the other end of the field and touched down as Leroy Cudjoe fed veteran Jermaine Mcgillvary in the corner.
Largely Hull were still on top, though, despite the close scoreline and they came close to a second when Bureta Faraimo tried to power home, , only y to see the ball squirm q out o of his grasp. The Black and Whites finally got their second, though, as Mahe Fonua powered h home just before half-time.
Opting to run it on the last rather t than kick, Sneyd looked left to the c centre, who used Faraimo as a d decoy before finding his way over.
Chris Satae could have added to Hull’s lead early in the second half only to knock on as he stretched over the line.
Huddersfield hit back through Matty English, who climbed highest to collect an Aidan Sezer kick and bring the Giants level.
But, it wasn’t long before Hull were ahead once more after a break from Jamie Shaul carried them 60m up the field.
The ball came to Faraimo on the last, who went over unopposed in the corner for his first try of the season.
Huddersfield just wouldn’t go away, though, and Sezer ensured a grandstand finish by levelling the scores inside the final 20 minutes.
But, Hull kept their heads and when Huddersfield were penalised for not being square, Sneyd delivered with the boot on his 150th appearance for the Black and Whites to see FC over the line and secure the win they deserved.
Key moment
The Black and Whites could have crumbled when Sezer went over late in the game, but they kept their cool and won the penalty which gave Sneyd the opportunity to win it with the boot.
Good day for
Marc Sneyd: Put in a few questionable last tackle plays, but directed play well largely and ticked over 150 games for the Black and Whites. The scrum-half grabbed the match-winning points from the kicking tee.
Bad day for
Jack Brown: The youngster did well with the ball in hand but was picked on by Sezer late in the game and was at fault for the half-back’s try. Fortunately, it did not prove costly. Bigger picture
Head coach Andy Last will have been pulling his hair out at times but his side have managed to secure the win and keep their season alive going into the final five games of the season.
A return to the KCOM Stadium to face Castleford Tigers on Sunday gives them an opportunity to kick on once more and keep themselves in the reckoning for the top four.