Hull FC progress to the next round of the Challenge Cup after a comfortable 28-12 victory over Castleford. Here’s what happened.
MATCH DETAILS
The 2017 Cup winners started their crusade for the title this year by dispatching Castleford Tigers at the KCOM running in four tries.
Hull raced into a 20-2 lead inside the first twenty minutes, with tries from Jake Connor, Bureta Faraimo and Albert Kelly putting the East Yorkshire side in a strong position. However before half-time, the Tigers struck giving them a chance in the second half.
A strong defensive display was rewarded, with Hull taking the sting out of the tie and with ten minutes to go when Mark Minichiello sealed the win.
A consolation try for Cory Aston rounded off a poor evening for the Tigers.
Hull started the game strong and thought they had opened the scoring inside four minutes. Jack Logan slid in the corner but his dive came too early, despite being under zero pressure. As a result, he slid over the ball and lost possession before the line.
The Tigers took the lead through a penalty but this was quickly cancelled out when Connor reached out and got the ball down for his third try of the season.
Marc Sneyd added a penalty before Faraimo got Hull’s second of the evening. A no-look pass from Josh Griffin allowed the American winger to get past the Castleford defence.
Hull weren’t done there as they made it three tries in nine minutes. A cross field kick from Sneyd was collected by Kelly and he was able to ground. Hull led 20-2 inside 19 minutes.
With ten minutes left in the half, James Clare struck back in the corner for the Tigers as the sides went into the interval at 20-8.
Sneyd extended the lead to 14 after opting for two. However, the result was over when Faraimo evaded three Castleford defenders before offloading to veteran Minichiello who finished it off.
Castleford had a final effort from Aston as he broke away and brushed off Sneyd five minutes from time.
FOUR POINTERS
Castleford’s poor Hull Cup record
The Tigers are yet to beat FC in this millennium in the Challenge Cup. It was a fourth straight defeat in this competition against Hull, a record which stretches back to 1999.
Hull attack strikes fear into defences
The attack of Sneyd, Kelly and Connor will take Hull a long way as each can win a match on their own. Tries from two of the three shows that Hull can strike anywhere on the pitch.
Cup woes continue for Castleford
The cup drought goes on for Castleford with them not being able to secure a fifth Challenge Cup in their history. They last lifted the trophy in 1986. Despite being impressive in recent years, they still haven’t been able to secure that silverware. They made it to the final in 2014 but fell short, losing 23-10 to Leeds.
Can Hull win it for a third time in four years?
Hull have put themselves into the quarter finals along with Halifax and Wakefield so far. These sides are only two wins away from a trip to Wembley and with the luck of the draw, it can put you into the final. Hull will be looking to get their title back off last years winners, Catalans Dragons, who face Doncaster in their first Cup game since becoming champions.
THE RESULT
Hull FC 28
Tries: Connor, Faraimo, Kelly, Minichello
Goals: Sneyd 6
Drop Goals: n/a
Castleford 12
Tries: Clare, Aston
Goals: Mata’utia 2
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Hull FC: Kelly, Naulago, Logan, Griffin, Faraimo, Connor, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, Paea, Manu, Minichiello, Westerman.
Interchanges:ย Hadley, Green, Matongo, Ellis.
Castleford: Mata’utia, Egodo, Minikin, Blair, Clare, Trueman, Ashton, Watts, McShane, Maher, Clarkson, McMeeken, Massey.
Interchanges:ย Millington, Milner, Sene-Lefao, Cook.
