Cup memories inspired us, says FC star Taylor
SCOTT Taylor believes Hull FC’S recent success in the Challenge Cup was a driving factor in their sixth round win over Castleford Tigers on Friday night.
The Black and Whites scored 20 points in a 10 minute stint in the first half as Jake Connor, Bureta Faraimo and Albert Kelly all went over for tries to help Hull assert their dominance early in the sixth round tie.
Castleford did launch a comeback as James Clare scored just before half-time, but when Mark Minichiello went over late in the game, the result was beyond doubt as Hull sealed their spot in the last eight of the competition they won in 2016 and 2017.
However, it was those two Cup victories which Scott Taylor believes worked in FC’S favour against Castleford
The vice-captain believes Hull’s experience of playing at Wembley and lifting the trophy on two occasions only makes them hungrier to get to the capital once more this August.
“I thought we started the game really well and blew them away in the first 20 minutes and got on the front foot and that set the tone,” Taylor said.
“It was probably a bit scrappy in the second half but in the Challenge Cup I’m not bothered whether we win by one points or 50 points I want to be in that hat.
“There’s a lot of boys out there who have been a part of it for the last few years and we know how good it tastes and maybe that’s the advantage we have on other teams sometimes. We know that feeling to lift it and the fans love a day out so really happy with the performance, I just hope it’s not another one-off and we put in a poor showing next week.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win it three times and there’s no better feeling I want to get there again.
“We need to work hard but if we hit the form we did on Friday and start games like that then we’ll be good for knockout rugby, I think.
“We’ve got an eight day turnaround now and a lot of boys need it.
“There were a few battered out there and we need to turn up to Warrington and give them a real good go.”
The commanding performance against Daryl Powell’s outfit followed a rather lacklustre one a week prior as the Black and Whites fell to a heavy defeat at home to Catalans Dragons last time out in the Super League.
However, Taylor believes a change of focus has been refreshing as they place the grind of the league on the backburner.
“It’s naturally brought energy to training and bounce, it’s knockout rugby so you’re almost bit scared,” Taylor added. “You only get one shot. There’s only two cups up for grabs and we know how it feels.
“It’s a good mindset to put the league aside for a week and think ‘you know what, we’re joint third, let’s worry about the cup,’ we’ve got that win and now we can worry about the league again.”