Hull FC hammered as Leeds Rhinos hit sixty points in Headingley drubbing
Hull FC's miserable season hit one of it's lowest points at Headingley as Leeds Rhinos thrashed the helpless Black and Whites 68-6 on Friday night. Off the pace throughout, Hull, producing an utterly torrid account, just couldn't match the speed and quality of Leeds, who kept up their own Super League top-six hopes with a thumping ten-try win.
In danger of a first bottom-placed finish in sixty years, Hull's points difference also took a battering in West Yorkshire, with two home games remaining to complete an abject campaign, one which could still finish with the ultimate low with London Broncos, level on points with Hull on the table, facing Huddersfield Giants later this weekend.
As for Friday's contest, Hull, below par throughout, were just well off the level required to compete in this competition. Defensively, they couldn't get a foothold, with Leeds going both through and around their opposition, keeping the ball alive to score some eye-catching tries, four of which came for winger Alfie Edgell. At times, it was effortless for Brad Arthur's side, who didn't break sweet at the other end either, comfortable in dealing with a Hull attack that was poor in structure and lacked any sort of cohesion to say the least.
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In what was their final away game of the year, Simon Grix made three changes to the Hull side, with Jack Walker, Brad Fash, and Zach Jebson back in the lineup. Danny Houghton made way to injury, with Leon Ruan unable to play against his parent club. Morgan Smith was also absent due to attending the birth of his child.
Leeds, meanwhile, had Mikolaj Oledzki back in the side, with the Rhinos starting as the stronger outfit. Rhyse Martin edged them ahead with a penalty goal, and on the next set, they scored through Harry Newman. The centre was on hand to gather Brodie Croft's kick, with the home side finding the offload on the last play.
Hull had chances to hit back, but some loose attack kept them at bay. On top of the game, Leeds smelt blood, and they extended their lead through Cam Smith, who took Oledzki's pass to score under the sticks. The Black and Whites then coughed up possession again, and from the scrum play, Leeds worked the ball to Edgell, who finished well in the corner. The play saw Jed Cartwright sin binned for a late hit on Croft, with things going from bad to worse.
James Bentley then scooted over on the last tackle, with the Rhinos in complete control. They had time for one more try before the break, with Lachlan Miller's clever reverse pass putting Croft into space. The half-back weaved his way to the line, with Leeds 32-0 up at the break.
The second half started in the same fashion, with Edgell grabbing his second try of the game from a scrum play. Hull, meanwhile, were hopeless with the ball, with Lewis Martin shoved into touch on the first play of the first good ball set in what seemed an eternity. That, as much as anything, summed Hull up, with the game boiling over as the Black and Whites' frustration was on show. Leeds elected for goal, with Martin bringing up the forty-point mark.
Edgell then got his hat-trick try, diving over after Croft's firing cut-out pass. Hull won the ball back from the kick off and they finally got on the board through Harvey Barron, who gathered Jordan Lane's kick to score. However, Hull lost the ball in the resulting set, and quick hands saw Edgell soon slide over for his fourth try. Martin then knocked over another penalty goal as the hour mark approached, with Leeds hitting sixty points as Croft raced away for his second of the night.
The scoring finally calmed down in the final quarter; not that took any traction away from what was a horrible Hull performance. Leeds weren't done, adding another penalty goal through Martin, before Cartwright was sin-binned for the second time of the night, with the back rower penalised for holding down. Bentley then completed the rout, crossing over for his second try in the final minute, with the Rhinos closing out a huge win, one that keeps their season alive and compounds the misery on Hull, who's campaign can't end soon enough.
Teams
Leeds Starting XIII: 1. Lachlan Miller; 2. David Fusitu'a, 4. Paul Momirovski, 3. Harry Newman, 29. Alfie Edgell; 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley; 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Andy Ackers, 17. Justin Sangare; 16. James McDonnell, 12. Rhyse Martin; 13. Cameron Smith.
Interchange: 15. Sam Lisone, 11. James Bentley, 14. Jarrod O'Connor, 16. James Donaldson. 18th man: 30. Tom Nicholson-Watton
Hull Starting XIII: 37. Logan Moy; 25. Harvey Barron, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 44. Tom Briscoe, 26. Lewis Martin; 40. Jack Charles, 31. Jack Walker; 8. Herman Ese'ese, 15. Jordan Lane, 52. Sam Eseh; 48. Jed Cartwright, 12. Ligi Sao; 45. Yusuf Aydin.
Interchange: 13. Brad Fash, 16. Jack Ashworth, 27. Zach Jebson, 28. Denive Balmforth. 18th man: 21. Will Gardiner
Scorers
Leeds Tries: Newman, Smith, Edgell 4, Bentley 2, Croft 2. Goals: Martin 13/13, Donaldson 1/1
Hull Tries: Barron. Goals: Charles 1/1
Scoring System: 2-0, 8-0, 14-0, 20-0, 26-0, 32-0, HT, 38-0, 40-0, 46-0, 46-6, 52-6, 54-6, 60-6, 62-6, 68-6
Referee: Tom Grant
Attendance: 14,105
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