A late surge from Castleford at the MKM Stadium gave the visitors a comprehensive victory over the Black & Whites on Saturday afternoon, despite FC fighting back from 24-6 down to get within four points of the Tigers.
Hull ultimately went down 39-20 in the Round 24 clash, despite an impressive quick-fire brace from Harvey Barron before half-time.
Scores in the final quarter from Hoy and Namo put the result beyond any doubt.
Team News
Simon Grix made four changes to the side that visited Wigan last weekend.
Most notably, Danny Houghton returned from injury and made his 450th appearance for the club.
Both Ligi Sao and Denive Balmforth returned after serving their suspensions.
Elsewhere, Sam Eseh also returned after being unavailable against his parent club last Sunday.
Ed Chamberlain and Jed Cartwright both missed out with head injuries, while Brad Fash also dropped out through a back injury.
The Match
FC had a mixed start to the game. A scoot from Houghton saw the Black and Whites end their opening set deep in Tigers territory. Strong defence looked to keep the Tigers out of the Hull half but an error saw them have another set of six and they made it count. Some good passing play created an overlap on the left edge and Innes Senior touched down for an early score. Milnes added the extras.
Hull got a great chance to hit back a few minutes later. A knock on from Qareqare returned possession to Grix’s side just ten metres out from the Castleford line. It didn’t take long for the hosts to capitalise, with Ligi Sao burrowing over from close range on the second tackle. Charles levelled the scores.
Castleford retook the lead less than a minute later. A knock on gifted the visitors a scrum, and Milnes scored straight from it. He converted his own try. A break down centre field was finished off nicely by Jenson Windley to make it back to back tries. Milnes was on target again.
Hull were then gifted a chance to respond. The kick off from Charles went out for a drop out, which then went out on the full. Lewis Martin jumped highest to claim Morgan Smith’s kick on the last, but he couldn’t take it cleanly and the ball was returned to the visitors. The Tigers raced down the field and looked to have another try, but after a video referee check were denied for a knock on.
The next opportunity went the home sides way. Jordan Lane thought he was over for Hull’s second of the day but he was adjudged to have lost the ball in the act of scoring.
Castleford got the next try on the 25 minute mark. An offload back inside found Hoy in plenty of free space to score. Milnes converted the try. The Black and Whites nearly had a quick response, but Smith’s kick was knocked on over the line, returning the ball back to Lingard’s men.
FC did score the next points however. After multiple chances at the Tigers line, the ball was shipped out to Harvey Barron in acres of space to score Hull’s second of the afternoon. Charles was wide with the conversion attempt. The Black and Whites made it back to back tries too, and it was almost a carbon copy of the last. A lovely cutout ball found its way to an unmarked Harvey Barron, who once again went in unopposed. Charles’ missed conversion attempt was the last act of the half.
Half-Time: Hull FC 14-24 Castleford Tigers
Lewis Martin looked to have scored on Hull’s first set of the second half, but was ruled out by the video referee in what was a bright start for the Black and Whites. A penalty helped the Tigers upfield on their next set, but great FC defence stood strong to keep the visitors out.
Castleford were then reduced to twelve with Sylvester Namo being sin binned, and Hull got a chance straight away to make the advantage count, but a knock on saw Lingard’s side survive.
It didn’t take long for FC to score however and it was a sensational try too. Ese’ese pushed off one Castleford defender, before sending an offload out the back door to Tuimavave who ran 20 metres to score under the posts. Charles converted. The Black and Whites nearly went back to back but the Tigers defence held firm.
The Tigers were reduced to eleven, with Liam Horne seeing yellow for a high tackle. Ese’ese nearly scored straight off the back of the sin binning but was held up over the line.
On the hour mark, the Black and Whites were reduced to twelve too, with Aydin seeing yellow for a high tackle. The visitors chose to kick for two from the resulting penalty and Milnes converted to stretch the lead to six points.
Castleford had their best chance of the half a few minutes later and they made the most of it. Out of nothing, Namo found himself with the ball on the last and managed to burrow over next to the uprights for the try. Milnes was on target again.
The Tigers stretched their lead with a drop goal from Rowan Milnes on the 70th minute. Their next use of the ball saw the visitors put the game to bed, with Tex Hoy barging over from close range, followed by Milnes converting the try.
Harvey Barron got a chance for a late consolation try, but he was bundled into touch by strong Tigers defence.
The last act of the game saw the Tigers denied a try by the video referee.
Full Time: Hull FC 20-39 Castleford Tigers
The Squads
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Carlos Tuimavave, Tom Briscoe, Lewis Martin, Morgan Smith, Jack Charles, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Houghton, Will Gardiner, Jordan Lane, Ligi Sao, Yusuf Aydin.
Interchanges: Jack Ashworth, Denive Balmforth, Leon Ruan, Sam Eseh.
18th Man: Zach Jebson.
Castleford Tigers: Tex Hoy, Jason Qareqare, Luke Hooley, Will Tate, Innes Senior, Rowan Milnes, Jenson Windley, Liam Watts, Liam Horne, Joe Westerman, Alex Mellor, Elie El-Zakhem, George Hill.
Interchanges: Paul McShane, George Lawler, Muizz Mustapha, Sylvester Namo.
18th Man: Cain Robb
The Scorers
Hull FC Tries: Sao (9), Barron (35, 38), Tuimavave (48)
Hull FC Conversions: Charles (11, 50)
Castleford Tigers Tries: Senior (3), Milnes (12), Windley (15), Hoy (25, 74), Namo (66)
Castleford Tigers Conversions: Milnes (4, 14, 16, 26, 62, 67, 75)
Castleford Tigers Drop Goals: Milnes (70)
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