Two sides looking for some winning form met at the KCOM Stadium as roller coaster side Hull FC took on a London Broncos side who know that every point is absolutely crucial for their survival in Super League.
Hull FC are still third in the table despite two consecutive defeats, however, a loss tonight could have seen them end the weekend in fifth place. London Broncos were bottom of the table but if they could get the victory then they would go level on points with the Rhinos and the Giants and lift themselves above Hull’s city neighbours KR into eleventh.
FC were without the injured Albert Kelly and Andre Savelio, while Danny Ward selected Sam Davis, Matty Fleming and James Cunningham for his run on side.
After a good opening few minutes for London they paid the price of a defensive error as Rhys Williams and Kieron Dixon both went for the same ball, and both missed it, with the bouncing ball being collected by Carlos Tuimavave to run in from twenty metres. Marc Sneyd added the conversion from just right of the uprights.
Three minutes later the Airlie Birds were in again through Bureta Faraimo as they retruned the kick-off with interest. Fast hands to the left wing allowed Faraimo to step inside the London winger and dive over the line. Sneyd added the conversion for a 12-0 lead. London looked rocked.
On fifteen Joe Westerman scored FC’s third try without response as he spun out of a couple of lacklustre tackles to lunge for the line and ground. Sneyd was again accurate with the boot, FC scoring at more than a point a minutes.
On eighteen it was becmiong a procession after Sika Manu did all the damage before providing Jake Connor with a walk in try. Sneyd slotted over the extras for 24-0, the game was already beyond London.
Two minutes later Josh Griffin had a walk-in after good work by Faraimo, leaving three tacklers in his wake, as FC returned the kick-off with interest. For once, Sneyd was unable to add the conversion.
London seemed to have stemmed the side and went on the attack but carelessly keeping the ball alive Ratu Naulago intercepted five metres from his own line and went from one end of the pitch to the other to get the sixth Hull try of the half. Sneyd kicked the extras, his 500th career goal, for 34-0.
It had been an exemplary half from the Black and Whites who’d barely looked troubled as they ran in six tries.
Four minutes into the second half it was London who struck first through when a cross field kick was tapped back by Williams into the hands of Matty Fleming to go over from five metres. Kieron Dixon added the extras from the left touchline.
On fifty-four Jordan Abdull stepped through the FC defence, once off each foot, to run behind the sticks to score. Dixon added the conversion for 34-12.
Eight minutes later Sadiq Adebiyi pushed under the FC tacklers to get London’s third try without response, and despite Dixon being able to add extras it was 34-16 with eighteen minuites to go, the Hull crowd almost silenced.
A Sneyd ten metre drop goal on seventy-one showed a much changed London the ultimate respect from a Hull side who didn’t want to go pointless in a second half after they had totally dominated the opening forty.
Williams should have scored in the seventy-third minute, but the Hull defence managed to dislodge the ball as he was in the act of scoring.
Adebiyi worked hard to get his second of the game with ninety seconds remaining as the Hull FC almost stood aside and allowed the London player to walk in. Dixon added the conversion for a final score of 22-35.
This was the archetypal game of two halves. Hull FC totally dominated the opening forty and sped to a 34-0 lead, but a superb London fightback gave Hull something to worry about as they accumulated sixteen second half points with just a solitary drop goal in response. Lee Radford went from delighted to furious, while Danny Ward will be delighted at the second half spirit that his side showed after their first forty capitulation.
FC: Shaul, Naulago (T), Tuimavave (T), Griffin (T), Faraimo (T), Connor (T), Sneyd (5G, DG), Taylor, Houghton, Paea, Manu, Minichiello, Westerman (T). Subs: Bowden, Fash, Green, Hadley.
Broncos: Williams, Hellewell, Kear, Dixon (3G), Cunningham, Battye, Pitts, Adebiyi (T), Fozard, Gee, Fleming (T), Yates, Davis. Subs: Abdull (T), Ioane, Hindmarsh, Butler.
Referee: Liam Moore.
Half-Time: 34-0.
Full-Time: 35-22.
Attendance: .
