Defensive mistakes prove costly yet again for Last’s Hull
HULL FC 22 SALFORD RED DEVILS 28
THIS was another night of irritating Hull FC inaction as their faint hopes of challenging for Super League’s play- offs were all but ended with a display that sums up their current state.
Flickers of positivity, not least from the excellent Jordan Lane and two- try Jamie Shaul, were ultimately far outweighed by the usual needless mistakes to gift their opponents victory.
Andy Last was without his first- choice half- backs, Marc Sneyd joining Albert Kelly on the sidelines after being left out as a Covid- related precaution.
But Jake Connor was too sporadic once more and too many of his colleagues – knocked out of the Challenge Cup last week – were too brittle when it came to defending their own line.
Things had started well with Connor and Josh Griffin combining nicely for Shaul to cross.
But Krisnan Inu replied far too easily and even when his side were reduced to 12, Dan Sarginson sin- binned for a crude high tackle on Shaul, the East Yorkshire club struggled.
Hull did create a fine try of their own, Ligi Sao’s short, disguised pass sending fellow forward Andre Savelio over untouched.
Connor’s conversion made it 12- 6 but, as is so often the case, a mistake invited Salford in.
Mahe Fonua was being pushed back towards his own line but he should still not have offloaded. He did and 12- man Salford gained possession, Pauli Pauli charging close to allow Joey Lussick the chance to get over too easily.
Inu’s conversion levelled matters but his side took the lead after a thoughtless tackle from Fash saw them concede yet another penalty. From there, Inu latched on to Brown’s fine long pass and showed too much power to get over Fonua. He converted for an 18- 12 interval lead and that was extended when Danny Houghton produced an ill- conceived offload. With that gifted ball, Samoa stand- off Tui Lolohea chipped ahead early in the tackle count for winger Rhys Williams to race in for a 22- 12 lead.
Shaul – back from his HIA – scored his 100th club try, Connor once more providing the assist.
Manu Ma’u surged clear from the restart but Shaul marginally over- ran in support and could not collect the pass. Sarginson, instead, charged the other way and 37- year- old ex- England stand- off Brown used his classic show and go to set up Andy Ackers.
Nevertheless, Lane cut a superb line to race through off Connor’s pass and stunned Sarginson with a turn of pace to score from 40m. Connor converted and, with 14 minutes still to go and trailing just 28- 22, it should have set up a grandstand finish.
However, Hull fans have grown to expect the worst and, typically, too many basic handling errors meant Last’s side never truly got near rescuing this.
Hull FC: Shaul; Scott, Fonua, Griffin, Faraimo; Tuimamave, Connor; Bowden, Houghton, Satae, Lane, Manu, Sau. Substitutes: Brown, Cator, Fash, Savelio. Salford: Sarginson; Williams, Watkins, Welham, Inu; Brown, Lolohea; Dudson, Lussick, Yates, Roberts, Ormondroyd, Flanagan. Substitutes: Pauli, Ikihifiao, Burke, Ackers. Referee: Chris Kendall ( Huddersfield).