Hull FC Under 18s qualified for the Academy Championship play-off semi-finals for a third consecutive year after coming from behind to defeat Castleford Tigers Under 18s 40-26.
There were tries aplenty in the opening 40, with Hull running in six tries in response to the Tigers taking an early 12-0 lead.
Despite fears of a potential Castleford comeback in the second-half, Will Hutchinson and Ryan Westerman stepped up to the mark to help FC’s youngsters book their date in the play-offs once again.
The Match
Castleford opened the scoring inside three minutes, with their field position coming off the back of Fletcher Rooney’s sharp break. On the next play, Corey-Jay Sharpe fired a cutout pass out wide for Alfie Wall to stride over.
The visitors were awarded a penalty not long after the restart, and Sharpe was once again the provider as Sam Darley pierced through the line and dummied past fullback Lloyd Kemp, with Hull’s backs against the wall inside the opening ten minutes.
But crucially, Hull were able to find a quick response. Aided by Callum Kemp’s break, which put the Tigers on the back foot, quick hands allowed the in-form Elliot Middlemas to open his account in the left corner.
Castleford’s middle was breached twice more, with Hull threatening to draw themselves closer when Will Wilson and Jordon Baker darted through on separate occasions.
However, it was a piece of individual brilliance from Westerman that set up Middlemas for his second try. A sensational flick pass out the back allowed the winger to dive in at the left corner.
Tails were up after the Middlemas double, and Hull decided to go for the front-door route when Callum Kemp’s short pass allowed Wilson to power his way over the whitewash from a fair ten metres out, with the Black & Whites taking the lead for the first-time after trailing 12-0 early on.
A handling error inside their own half gifted FC field position, and more quick hands allowed Callum Barfield the time and space to get low to score in the right corner, as Francis Cummins’ side took advantage of their first-half purple patch.
The Tigers, a long way from the comfort of their early 12-0 lead, were then temporarily reduced to twelve men when the man who opened the scoring, Wall, was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Barfield.
And the hosts were able to capitalise on the numerical advantage, with Lloyd Kemp drawing in the centre to put Lennon Clark through a gaping hole from close range.
Hull’s first-half assault continued as they edged closer towards securing their play-off status, with Clark turning from scorer to provider as his delayed pass enabled Barfield to slide in for his second of the game.
But on the approach to half-time, Castleford reduced the deficit to fourteen points thanks to Alfie Horwell’s adventurous scampering run out of dummy-half.
HALF-TIME: Hull Academy 30-16 Tigers Academy
Wall’s well-executed catch-and-pass saw winger Jacob Hall fly in at the left corner, which meant the tries either side of half-time certainly had Castleford interested again.
The wind was definitely in the sails of the Tigers when Rooney gave it everything to push up and support Leo Skerrett-Evans’ break down the middle of the field, with the fullback dotting down underneath the uprights.
The result of the match was thrown back up into the air after Castleford’s three consecutive tries, but Hutchinson was able to bring a spell of calm again for Hull after he danced his way over with some neat footwork on the hour mark.
Still, a ten-point advantage wasn’t guaranteed to get Hull’s Under 18s home and dry with 20 minutes remaining.
But the young Black & Whites rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in defensively. Hall had an opportunity to score in the left corner after taking in Wall’s offload, but Callum Kemp scrambled well to force an error.
Hull’s fate was all but secured with ten minutes to go, though. Once again, Callum Kemp was the orchestrator, as he picked the correct pass to find Westerman, and the centre showed lovely footwork to beat Rooney and finish off the move.
FULL-TIME: Hull Academy 40-26 Tigers Academy
Squads & Scorers
Hull: L Kemp, Barfield, Clark, Westerman, Middlemas, C Kemp, Thompson, Turner, Hutchinson, Wilson, Baker, Wainhouse, Haldenby
Hull Interchanges: Rea, Shepherdson, Smith, Swyer
Hull Tries: Middlemas (2), Wilson, Barfield (2), Clark, Hutchinson, Westerman
Hull Goals: Westerman (4/8)
Tigers: Rooney, Hall, Wall, Sarbah, Ncube, Beedle, Sharpe, Millington, Horwell, Walker, Grice, Darley, Salmon
Tigers Interchanges: Bullock, Dale, Hawkhead, Skerrett-Evans, Rooney
Tigers Tries: Wall, Darley, Horwell
Tigers Goals: Beedle (2/3), Wall (1/2)
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