Threesy for Black & Whites
JOY FOR HAT-TRICK HEROES
Hull FC 48
BY MATT SHAW
HULL FC stars Darnell McIntosh and Connor Wynne shared the match ball after scoring hat-tricks apiece in a dominant win over hapless Toulouse Olympique.
The duo played on either flank but raced in for trebles as the Black and Whites stormed to a third straight win and a fifth on the bounce on home soil at the expense of the French outfit, who are now four points adrift at the bottom of Super League.
Brett Hodgson’s men now sit fourth in the table after a promising start to the season, with this win all the more impressive given they did it without a recognised half-back in the team.
Suspensions to Luke Gale
Toulouse 12
and Josh Reynolds and injury to Ben McNamara forced hookers Joe Lovodua and Jordan Johnstone to operate in the halves, but they oversaw a nine-try rout.
“What I’m really happy with this year is that we’re only worrying about the players that are playing,” admitted Hodgson (below).
“I say that with respect to the players that aren’t but the boys going on to the field know they’re going on with a game plan and rolling their sleeves up.”
He added: “It was a very professional performance. We knew they would have a go, they’re extremely physical and we knew we’d be in a game, there will be a few sore bodies on both sides.”
Toulouse actually took the lead on 12 minutes when former Hull KR centre Junior Vaivai reacted first to a kick in goal.
But 26 points in 18 first-half minutes saw the hosts storm into an unassailable lead.
McIntosh was the first to score with an acrobatic finish before being pegged back by
Wynne on the scoreboard with a scorching effort on the other wing.
Lovodua was the next to go over before Hull FC’s hat-trick heroes bagged their braces within four minutes of each other just before the interval.
Though Anthony Marion did pull one back early in the second half, normality was soon restored by debutant Denive Balmforth.
The 18-year-old had come on just two minutes before crossing the whitewash to the delight of those in attendance.
Wynne completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes but not to be outdone, McIntosh did exactly the same five minutes later.
Toulouse were put out of their misery five minutes before the end as Kane Evans was the beneficiary of Lovodua’s generosity, who passed him the ball over the line to gift him his first try in Hull FC colours.
Meanwhile, Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles said Super League officials should consider providing an exemption to protect his side from relegation.
“It’s a big issue for me,” Houles said.
“It’s a big problem in the game.
“Any team coming up, it is going to be really hard for and any good businessman will see with France and the World Cup in 2025, they’ll have the vision to give us the exemption.
“Any sustainable business, if you want a big World Cup, you will need this.”
HULL FC: Tries: McIntosh (3), Wynne (3), Lovodua, Balmforth, Evans. Goals: Connor (6). TOULOUSE: Tries: Vaivai, Marion. Goals: Marion (2).