Hull FC 22 Leeds Rhinos 40: Ash Handley hat-trick sees Leeds end brave Hull's hopes

Richard Agar’s side, of course, were supposed to host Castleford Tigers this evening but their West Yorkshire rivals - beset by injuries and Covid-related absentees - pulled out late last night.

Hull were supposed to have their feet up but, for the benefit of the Super League competition, they accepted a request to stand-in as replacement opponents at late notice despite missing 13 players themselves.

Interim head coach Andy Last had to throw a side together with less than 24 hours to prepare but the team he put out showed real character, resilience and no little tigerish attitude to give Leeds just the test they needed ahead of their Wembley appearance a week tomorrow.

In the end, Ash Handley’s hat-trick helped them to another win and full-back Jack Walker did his chances of playing in the final the world of good with two tries of his own.

Nevertheless, Hull were trailing just 28-22 with 15 minutes remaining as they played their part in an absorbing contest.

For any coach preparing for a Challenge Cup final in a little over a week’s time, the sight of not one but two players having their heads split inside the opening 14 minutes must test the nerves.

Admittedly, the bloodied injuries suffered to Leeds forwards Bodene Thompson and Mikolaj Oledski will not jeopardise their places at Wembley - Thompson is Cup-tied regardless - but, as they got bandaged up in separate incidents, it was a reminder to Agar of just how ferocious this battle might be.

Hull may have only found out they were playing a game less than 24 hours before kick-off but they were ready.

Indeed, as they surged into a 10-0 lead inside the opening quarter, they played with an alacrity and elan like they did not have a care in the world.

Perhaps they didn’t; throw out the usual build-up of preparation, instruction and studying of opponents in favour of simply going out and enjoying some rugby league.

Walker’s night started badly when he spilled a pass and Hull scored in the next set, Jake Connor perfectly timing a pass for Mahe Fonua to crash over in the ninth minute.

When Connor - operating at full-back - sent out a beautiful arcing pass to let Cameron Scott run free, Hull seemed set to score one of the tries of the season as the winger went on to dummy and accelerate past Walker.

Ash Handley eventually denied him but, when Richie Myler rushed out of the defensive line from a blatantly offside position to smother Marc Sneyd, he was yellow-carded to further encourage Last’s side.

In the next set, Ben McNamara - the 18-year-old stand-off handed his first start after a try-scoring debut off the bench in last week’s win at Castleford - showed great deftness with a delayed pass to allow Andre Savelio to stretch over.

If Hull could have scored with their next attack - and they really should - the end result might have been a different matter but both Fonua and Buerata Farimo failed with their chances at touching Sneyd’s teasing grubber.

Leeds, who had been so unusually sloppy in attack and defence, had seen enough: they sorted themselves out and slowly began to show the authority that has put them in the hunt for both trophies.

While still down t0 12 men, Handley palmed down Luke Gale’s hoisted kick to furnish Walker with his first try of the night.

Rhyse Martin improved and, in the next set, Walker showed his creative skills with a marvellous cut-out pass around the back to return the favour to Handley, levelling up the game.

A Thompson break came to nothing but Matt Prior, the Australian prop, showed superb handling to offload for Walker’s second try just before the break.

When Scott failed to defuse another Gale kick at the start of the second period, James Donaldson - who played in Hull KR’s 50-0 Challenge Cup final loss to Leeds five years ago - muscled his way over between the sticks.

Securing back-to-back tries gives sides such a fillip and Rhinos again achieved that when hooker Brad Dwyer zipped clear near halfway and found Handley, as ever, in support for his second try of the night, Martin making it 28-10.

Given the circumstances in which they entered this match, lightweight Hull would have been forgiven if the scoreline had stretched out.

Certainly,they struggled to gain any field position but Connor’s 40/20 kick cured that in an instant and Josh Griffin capitalised with a try in the 57th minute.

Soon after, Sneyd arrowed his own 40/20 as well and, this time, young prop Jack Brown confidently dummied and straightened up to barge through Leeds’ suddenly befuddled defence.

Sneyd converted both meaning, from the perfect execution of the difficult skill, his side had garnered a dozen points and were left right back in the game trailing just 28-22 with 15 minutes remaining.

Leeds, then, were eternally grateful when Liam Sutcliffe rose highest to gather Gale’s crossfield kick and, at the death, Handley intercepted Connor’s pass to complete his hat-trick.

Rhinos rested stand-off Robert Lui with a minor injury but it is hoped he will be fit for Wembley.

Hull FC: Connor; Scott, Tuimavave, Fonua, Faraimo; McNamara, Sneyd; Bowden, Johnstone, Sao, Savelio, Griffin, Fash. Substitutes: Satate, Wynne, Bienek, Brown.

Leeds Rhinos: Walker; T Briscoe, Hurrell, Sutcliffe, Handley; Myler, Gale; Seumnaufagai, Leeming, Oledzki, Martin, Thompson, Prior. Substitutes: Dwyer, Donaldson, Smith, Holroyd.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield)