Catalans Dragons 14 Hull 28: Key duo's return lifts Hull

Hull climbed to sixth in the Super League table, while their opponents were left to rue a result which leaves them looking increasingly unlikely to be involved in the play-offs.

Buoyed by the return of Long after a six-week absence with ankle ligament damage, Agar pointed to his scrum-half's return as a key factor in Hull registering their best performance since a Good Friday derby victory against Hull KR.

"There is a long way to go, but without doubt the return of Craig Fitzgibbon and Sean Long has helped us this week. They have spread a lot of confidence throughout the team and they've been very good for us," said Agar.

"It goes without saying that having our scrum-half back made the difference as it would to most sides. We hit our regions well, everyone was in the right position on the field and doing the right things."

Long did not get on the score sheet but was at the heart of almost every Hull attack as Agar's side scored four first-half tries to give the Dragons too big a hurdle to climb.

A second-half try for Tansey put the game to bed before Catalans gave the scoreline a more positive reflection with late tries for Sebastien Raguin and Steven Bell. Pointing to his side's missed chances, Catalans coach Kevin Walters admitted his team needed to be better to beat a Hull side buoyed by the return of three international players.

But despite being rooted to the bottom of the table with just two victories from 14 games, Walters insists the season is still not over for the Dragons.

"We have to keep going because we are still mathematically in with a chance of the play-offs and as long as that is alive and available to us we will do the best we can to get the wins we need," said Walters.

Catalans Dragons: Pelo, Bell, Raguin, Sa, Vaccari, Gigot, Bosc, Ferriol, Baile, Guisset, Elima, Mounis, Johnson. Substitutes: K. Bentley, Carlaw, Fakir, Casty.

Hull FC: Tansey, Whiting, Turner, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Washbrook, Long, O'Meley, Houghton, Dowes, Radford, Tickle, Fitzgibbon. Substitutes: Burnett, Moa, Cunningham, McShane.

Referee: J Child (England).