Hull v Dragons match report


 
 

Hull FC (8) 24
T : Tom Lineham 4, Jordan Abdull, Curtis Naughton
G :

Catalans Dragons (20) 28
: Jordan Sigismeau, Ian Henderson, Krisnan Inu, Elliott Whitehead, Thomas Bosc
: Scott Dureau 4

 

Despite four tries from Warrington Wolves-bound Tom Lineham, Hull FC fell to a 28-24 defeat at home to Catalans Dragons.

The Black and Whites were hoping to end a week of 150th birthday celebrations on a high, but ultimately were lost the match due to poor kicking, after outscoring their opponents six tries to five.

Marc Sneyd missed the first four conversions, before Jordan Rankin failed do any better with the final attempts, as Scott Dureau's four goals made the difference.

The Dragons built up a 20-point lead thanks to first-half tries from Jordan Sigismeau, Ian Henderson, Krisnan Inu and Elliot Whitehead.

But four tries either side of half-time allowed enabled Hull to close the gap to four points, with Lineham crossing twice and Jordan Abdull and Curtis Naughton also touching down.

The French side were stronger midway through the second period, though, with Thomas Bosc snatching a try for the visitors after an error from Rankin.

Dureau added a penalty, before two later scores for Lineham closed the gap to four points, but to no avail for the hosts.

Catalans built up a big lead halfway through the first period. Poor defence allowed Garcia to open the scoring when he dived over from dummy-half, before Henderson did the same five minutes later.

Inu sped over to make it 16-0 to the visitors, with Whitehead giving the French outfit a 20-point lead after picking up Lineham's knock-on.

The Airlie Birds hit back with four tries either side of half-time to bring themselves to within four points, but all four were unconverted.

First Lineham dived over from close after great hands from Jack Logan. Abdull cut the deficit to 12 with a fine solo try before the break, with the stand-off utilising great strength and deception.

Hull started the second half brighter, with Curtis Naughton touching down after a neat short grubber kick by Kirk Yeaman.

Lineham grabbed his second when he barged over after fending Dragons' full-back Morgan Escare to the floor.

But the tide turned back in Catalans' favour when a Rankin error allowed Bosc to pick up the ball and race 20 metres for a decisive try.

Dureau added a penalty goal to make it 28-16 to Catalans, before Lineham pulled it back to within four after diving for two late tries, both assisted by impressive offloads from Logan.

 

Team sheet

Hull : Rankin, Lineham, Logan, Yeaman, Naughton, Abdull, Sneyd, Paea, Houghton, Watts, Minichiello, Whiting, Thompson
Bench: Palea'aesina, Turgut, Fash, Bowden

Dragons : Escare, Inu, Gigot, Garcia, Sigismeau, Bosc, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Bousquet, Anderson, Whitehead, Baitieri
Bench: Maria, Robin, Guasch, Perez

Referee: Richard Silverwood

Attendance: 10 832