Crusaders 18 Hull 16: Fitzgibbon's miss hands an unlikely win to Crusaders

The 18-16 win over Hull put the Welsh outfit, who finished bottom of the table in their inaugural year at rugby league's elite level, into the top eight.

And it was a first defeat of the new season for the Humberside outfit who were 12-6 and 16-12 ahead at stages during the match.

Two tries from wing Nick Youngquest and one from Michael Witt for the Crusaders against tries from Lee Radford, Tom Briscoe and Kirk Yeaman for Hull levelled out matters in that score.

But a missed conversion by Craig Fitzgibbon against three out of three for Witt was the difference, as was some great fighting spirit by the Welshmen.

Noble said: "Our goalline defence was terrific but we could have made the game a whole lot easier.

"We have worked extremely hard since we got together in January and they got their just rewards today but we will keep a lid firmly on it.

"We are delighted that we beat a top team and delighted how we came through the last 10 minutes.

"It was fabulous and I think we thoroughly deserved to win. We are playing a good team with some great individuals and quality there.

"We thought we had a chance if we played anywhere near how we did last week (against Salford) and that proved to be the case."

And while Hull head coach Richard Agar was thoroughly fed up by the loss, he believes the Crusaders have turned the corner from their troubled Super League past of last year.

Agar said: "I think they will continue to progress and develop. They are a completely different entity from last year.

"They already seem to have built up a lot of local base and they are very excited about it. They could turn into a team that is very hard to beat."

Star Hull back Shaun Long missed the game with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for a week.

As for his own team's display, Agar added: "We can learn massively from this.

"If you don't turn up with the right attitude and focus, this is what can happen. They defended really well and played a good defensive game.

"Setbacks like this will happen and these are lessons we have to learn from. We have a few individuals who underperformed and we have a few disappointed blokes now."

It boiled down to the last few minutes of the match when the Welsh side, who are based at Wrexham FC's Racecourse Ground since their move from Bridgend, grabbed a corner try and conversion.

Hull were aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the season which has seen them beat Huddersfield at the KC Stadium and then romp past St Helens 32-12.

But, for the Crusaders, it was a chance to make it a second successive victory after beating Salford under a seven-try wave a week ago.

An army of volunteers were at Racecourse early on Sunday morning to clear snow off the pitch.

And it seemed to have been worth the effort as the home side got off to a great start when Youngquest leapt high in the corner to retrieve a cross-kick on the sixth tackle and slide over for the opening try of the match.

However, the lead did not last long as Hull hit back when Radford saw a slight gap near the home posts and went through to score.

Fitzgibbon converted and had a terrific opening period, with plenty of carries which caused the Crusaders all sorts of problems.

He also added the conversion when Briscoe was put in for a simple try at the corner to make it 12-6 and put the heat on the home side on a bitterly cold afternoon.

Weller Hauraki nearly got Crusaders' second try when he went over the line but the score was ruled out for a knock-on.

That threat, though, turned to a result soon after when Witt found a gap to cross, converting his own touchdown and levelling the scores at the break.

On the hour, Hull finally got back into the lead when a neat kick through to the try area was pounced on by Yeaman.

The Welsh spirit would not lay down and the Crusaders hit back to put them within reach of their first back-to-back victories in Super League when Youngquest grabbed his second try of the match with a carbon copy of his first by jumping high to reclaim the ball from a cross-kick.

Witt then put them into a winning lead with a huge touchline conversion.

Crusaders: Kear, Youngquest, Dyer, Mellars, Raynor, Lee, Witt, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Hauraki, Chan, Trimarchi. Substitutes: Thackray, Peek, Winternstein, Lupton.

Hull: Tansey, Hall, Whiting, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Washbrook, Horne, O'Meley, Berrigan, Radford, Burnett, Manu, Fitzgibbon. Substitutes: Dowes, Cusack, Lauaki, Houghton.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).