Dismal Hull’s threat extinguished by red-hot Dragons
INJURIES PILE UP AS FC ARE SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Hull FC produced an underwhelming and mistake-ridden performance at the Stade Gilbert Brutus as they were thumped 36-8 by Catalans Dragons.
Here’s the verdict.
Analysis
The Black and Whites were always going to be challenged in the south of France as they took on a motivated Catalans Dragons outfit without their star man Jake Connor.
His absence put pressure on the likes of Josh Reynolds and Luke
Gale to step up and produce the creativity Brett Hodgson’s side needed in the Perpignan sunshine.
However, in the first half, neither Gale nor Reynolds were able to make a positive impact as the
Dragons dominated. The French side, backed by a rowdy crowd, started well by playing at a tempo FC simply couldn’t match and, after threatening on a couple of occasions, they found the breakthrough.
Mike Mcmeeken was the man to touch down for the Dragons, powering through the sizeable gap between Gale and Connor Wynne with ease, before touching down in front of the 1,000 or so Hull supporters.
The Black and Whites started to claw themselves back into the game and they would have looked capable of scoring if not for a number of errors. Jamie Shaul and Joe Lovodua spilled passes and FC gifted the Dragons the chance to get off their own line with lapses in discipline and concentration.
Sam Tomkins punished Hull from
the boot by kicking a penalty and as the first half ticked away Steve Mcnamara’s side scored twice to establish the lead their dominance deserved.
Fouad Yaha touched down in the corner, before Mickael Goudemand had the strength and power to slip through a gap and get over, despite the challenge of Josh Griffin.
The errors in possession continued from the Black and Whites in the second half, but it didn’t prevent them from getting over the line early as Griffin charged through the challenge of Samisoni Langi to score.
However, Langi got his revenge just a few moments later, making the most of an overlap on Hull’s left edge to touch down in the corner.
The Black and Whites were losing men as both Adam Swift and Carlos Tuimavave came off through injury and their hopes of result were fading fast as the second half continued.
Hull did well to deny Tom Davies a first of the day by holding him up over the line and a superb tackle from Joe Lovodua denied Matt Whitley moments later.
Mcintosh went over for the Black
and Whites with nine minutes remaining, but Mitchell Pearce capitalised on a mistake from Chris Satae to go over for Catalans’ fifth and Tyrone May went over late to round off the scoring.
Key moment
Catalans were already dominant, but Langi’s try ensured there could be no realistic hopes of a comeback. It killed the momentum Hull were looking to build after scoring.
Good day for
Josh Griffin. One of Hull’s best of the day. He carried well both in the back-row and at centre and he got himself a try for his efforts.
Bad day for
Josh Reynolds. Far from good enough with the ball and even worse defensively, as he struggled to create and made a habit of falling off tackles.
Bigger picture
The Black and Whites have now lost two in a row and without Connor, they’re lacking inspiration and quality where it matters. Injuries to Adam Swift and Carlos Tuimavave will be a concern for Hodgson, too.
The head coach has plenty of work to do before Hull take on Warrington Wolves in a fortnight’s time.