Catalans Dragons took home the points in the Black & Whites final outing of the season, winning 24-4.
A young Hull side fought valiantly for long periods, but the French side pulled away in the closing stages.
The match was the final outing for club icons Danny Houghton and Carlos Tuimavave, who pulled on an FC jersey for the final time today.
Team News
Hull FC made six changes to the squad that faced Salford a week ago.
Most notably, Danny Houghton and Carlos Tuimavave both returned to the lineup as they played in Black and White for the final time.
Academy stars Ryan Westerman and Callum Kemp came into the squad to make their senior debuts.
Matty Laidlaw and Jed Cartwright also returned to the team.
Last week’s halfback pairing, Jack Charles and Jack Walker, both missed out, as did both of last week’s centres, Davy Litten and Ed Chamberlain.
Brad Fash and Tiaki Chan also dropped out of the matchday squad.
The Match
FC’s first set of the game was promising, with Tuimavave nearly breaking the line down the right edge, before Kemp landed a swirling kick on Yaha’s head. Hull’s next use of the ball saw Morgan Smith’s kick be knocked on by a Catalans man, gifting a repeat set to the Black and White metres out from the line. Houghton was held up just short on the third play, before a kick was sent over to Lewis Martin who scored the opening try. Lane’s conversion was off target.
The Dragons had a chance to hit back with ten minutes gone, shipping the ball out to Tom Davies, who knocked on as it begun to look threatening. They went close on their next set too, but Davies knocked on again, and this time Martin scooped up the loose ball and raced 60 metres upfield to put Hull in promising field position. Nothing came of it however.
Danny Houghton thought he’d scored the Black and Whites second after 15 minutes, but what would’ve been a special try was ruled out for an infringement in the build up.
Simon Grix’s side got another opportunity a few minutes later, starting a set just 25 metres away from the tryline. Hull would go on to have three straight sets on the Dragons line, going close multiple times before a wayward pass saw possession returned to the French side. Laguerre went close for McNamara’s men but a knock on saw FC survive their biggest threat of the game so far.
With just over half an hour on the clock, Catalans got their try. A charging run from Chris Satae wasn’t dealt with and he touched down for the try against his former side. Morgue kicked the conversion to edge Catalans into a two point lead.
Hull were quickly back on the attack however, capitalising on an error. Smith launched a chip over the top, which was dealt with well by Tomkins. FC ended the half in attack too, with the last action being a knock on twenty metres out from the tryline.
Half-Time: Hull FC 4-6 Catalans Dragons
Hull FC were tasked with a lot of defending at the start of the second half. Three sets were defended well with no chances to write home about for the Dragons, but on the fourth repeat set, Laguerre made the most of an overlap down the left edge to score. Morgue dragged the conversion wide. Laguerre then went close to grabbing his second on the next set but the Frenchman knocked on.
Hull went close to hitting back on the 50 minute mark, with Morgan Smith running the ball on the last, getting away from two tacklers before Tomkins brought the threat to an end. A beautiful flick pass to Tuimavave saw Hull go close again on their next set, but the Black and Whites just couldn’t get over the whitewash.
FC were given a chance again a few moments later following a late tackle on Kemp, before Reimis Smith intercepted and then was taken high. Strong defence kept the visitors at bay once again. On the next set, Cartwright thought he was away for Hull to bring the scores back level with just over 20 minutes to go, but the ball was returned to Catalans for a knock on.
The Dragons extended their lead through an Arthur Morgue penalty, before racing away for their third try of the afternoon on the next set. Morgue touched down under the posts and converted his own try.
FC’s best opportunity of the half came with 15 minutes to go. Moy broke out of a tackle and raced down field. Without much support, Moy chipped over the top and trapped Tomkins in goal for a drop out. Houghton was held up just short from the resulting drop out but couldn’t get over for the try.
Another great chance went begging for the Black and Whites a few moments later, following a knock on at the end of a flowing passage of play with the ball going through numerous hands.
With five minutes to go Catalans extended their lead, with Tom Davies pulling out an acrobatic effort in the corner. Arthur Morgue was successful with the conversion.
The game came to a close with a drop out to the Dragons, which was defended superbly by Hull.
Full Time: Hull FC 4-24 Catalans Dragons
The Squads
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Carlos Tuimavave, Ryan Westerman, Lewis Martin, Morgan Smith, Callum Kemp, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Houghton, Will Gardiner, Jordan Lane, Jed Cartwright, Yusuf Aydin.
Hull FC Interchanges: Jack Ashworth, Zach Jebson, Denive Balmforth, Matty Laidlaw.
Hull FC 18th Man: Leon Ruan
Catalans Dragons: Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Reimis Smith, Matthieu Laguerre, Fouad Yaha, Arthur Mourgue, Theo Fages, Romain Navarette, Alrix Da Costa, Julian Bousquet, Tariq Sims, Bayley Sironen, Ben Garcia.
Catalans Dragons Interchanges: Chris Satae, Cesar Rouge, Jordan Dezaria, Jarrod Wallace.
Catalans Dragons 18th Man: Paul Seguier.
The Scorers
Hull FC Tries: Martin (4)
Hull FC Conversions:
Catalans Dragons Tries: Satae (32), Laguerre (43), Morgue (59), Davies (75)
Catalans Dragons Conversions: Morgue (34, 58, 60, 76)
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 9,384
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