Hull FC held on after a late London comeback to grab a 28-24 victory. Here’s how the game unfolded.
MATCH DETAILS
A multi-positioned Josh Griffin starred as Hull FC staved off a late London comeback to secure an important two points and continue their hunt for a play-off spot in 5th place.
Despite coming out of the blocks quickly and applying a significant amount of pressure on the Hull line, the Broncos continued their knack of conceding the first try in allowing Griffin to bustle through a weak Broncos right edge defence after a near-impossible offload from Bureta Faraimo.
Hull aimed to consolidate their 4-0 lead and play expansively from the back, only for Sika Manu to fumble into the clinches of Elliot Kear, who waltzed in under the sticks and put London in the lead after a simple Dixon conversion.
Broncos’ momentum continued but poor discipline cost the home side and Hull crossed for a second time through Griffin off the back of a masterful set piece move.
Broncos, however, hit back off the after grinding their way back into the game with a close-range effort from Eloi Pellisier. Kieron Dixon converted and put London into a deserved lead.
The Broncos continued to press Hull and forced the hand of referee Scott Mikalauskas, who put the visitors on a warning after consecutive penalties in the red zone, of which Kieron Dixon took advantage and put London Broncos a further two points in the lead into half time.
Broncos came out of the half time sheds 14-10 up but their four-point lead lasted less than two minutes, with Albert Kelly and Carlos Tuimavave combining to cross untouched for a conversion under the sticks.
Despite losing Jamie Shaul to an injury from a powerful Broncos tackle, Hull franked their territorial pressure in the second half and scored through a well-worked left edge move started by Albert Kelly. He took matters into his own hands once again and put Hull 24-14 up with an 80m interception try off the back of a high risk pass from former Hull man Jordan Abdull.
Continuing to play freely off the back of an exceptional tactical kicking game from Marc Sneyd, Josh Griffin, filling in at full-back, set up another try down the left edge for Faraimo (14-28).
London, however, remained in the game mentally while Hull took their foot off the gas and scored soon after, with Abdull muscling over the line from close range.
Broncos continued to press and presented an emphatic comeback effort with Rhys Williams scoring off the back of a sublime offload from Matty Fozard. Dixon converted and the Broncos pressed to the final whistle with a grubber through for Williams on the line, which was killed dead by Hull in a goal line scramble after the hooter.
FOUR POINTERS
Kear brought his running shoes
Broncos’ stalwart, Elliot Kear, ran the most metres and carries in Super League Round 7, topping the likes of Leeds’ powerhouse Konrad Hurrell and Warrington’s Daryl Clark. Unsurprisingly, he made his biggest impact of the season through his running game in conjunction with top-class handling and brave defensive efforts.
New stand, new atmosphere
The Hull FC following made full use of the newly-built stand at Trailfinders and played a part in a positively competitive atmosphere at the game between the two sets of fans.
Broncos still springing surprises
Starting the season as heavy favourites to be relegated, London have so far disproven their doubters and shown they truly deserve to be in Super League, having had live chances to win, or won, over half of their fixtures so far. They’ll no doubt see this as an opportunity missed and probably one that got away.
Taylor leads from the front
Having started on the bench, Scott Taylor made the most substantial impact for the visitors when he entered the field of play. Carrying ferociously and getting Hull on the front foot, he was a major factor in their win and allowed the likes of Albert Kelly and Josh Griffin to exploit the Broncos’ defensive frailties.
THE RESULT
London 24
Tries: Kear, Pelissier, Abdull, Williams
Goals: Dixon 4
Drop Goals: n/a
Hull FC 28
Tries: Griffin 2, Tuimavave, Thompson, Kelly, Faraimo
Goals: Sneyd 2
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
London: Walker, Dixon, Morgan, Kear, Williams, Abdull, Smith, Battye, Pelissier, Butler, Pitts, Yates, Davies.
Interchanges: Richards, Lovell, Fozard, Mason.
Hull FC: Shaul, Naulago, Tuimavave, Griffin, Faraimo, Kelly, Sneyd, Paea, Houghton, Motongo, Hadley, Manu, Ellis.
Interchanges: Lane, Litten, Taylor, Thompson.
