Hull FC 28 Catalan 8: Crooks at double as Hull FC clinch back-to-back victories

The visitors took an early first-half lead when William Barthau slotted over a penalty.

Hull replied when Ben Crooks crossed for the first try of the game before Barthau successfully added a penalty before the half-time to level.

Within 15 minutes of the restart Hull had a 16-4 lead after tries from Tom Briscoe and Tom Lineham were both converted by Danny Tickle. Lineham then added his second, before Morgan Escare grabbed a consolation try for Catalan, and Crooks crossed for his second for FC late on.

Hull made one change to their squad, with Shannon McDonnell back and Jamie Shaul missing out. Catalans made three changes, with Thomas Bosc, Damien Blanch and Daryl Millard dropping out.

Catalan posted the first points of the game after a penalty for a high shot gave Barthau the chance to easily dispatch the two to give the Dragons an early lead.

On the back of another penalty the visitors pressured the Hull line but with the Black and White supporters firmly behind their team, FC held out three back-to-back sets when McDonnell impressively stopped Jason Baitieri from crossing close to the line.

When Hull were handed their own penalty they declined the option of two points, and duly grabbed the first try of the game when Aaron Heremaia’s neat grubber kick was pounced upon by Crooks to score for a 4-2 lead.

The home side were the next to attack deep in the opposition’s half and could have scored on two occasions, first when Richard Horne’s pass was rightly ruled forward to Tickle, and second when Briscoe failed to touchdown off Danny Houghton’s kick on an advantage play.

Just before the break Barthau pulled a penalty goal attempt wide before successfully levelling the game two minutes later with another chance from in front.

Hull built some pressure after the break forcing a drop-out from Horne’s kick. Pressure turned into points in the 46th minute with a great spread play down the left side allowing Briscoe to touchdown in the corner after a pass from McDonnell. Tickle converted from the touchline for a six-point lead.

With just under half an hour remaining Horne produced a great momentum-shifting 40-20 kick that gave FC the chance to camp on the Catalan line.

The home side were soon over the line when Heremaia created his second try of the game with a beautiful cut-out pass finding Lineham. Tickle added the two to give Hull a 12-point advantage.

McDonnell was then forced off with a head injury and Richard Whiting took his place at full-back. But Hull didn’t relent as Lineham grabbed his second try of the game and Joe Westerman converted from the touchline.

The Black and Whites added more points later on from a Westerman penalty goal.

Escare then showed great footwork to cross for the Dragons’ first score before Crooks pounced on a loose ball with two minutes to go to grab his second try for Hull.

“This type of result has been coming because we’ve been working hard in training. We wanted to dictate the tempo of the second half and I think we came out and did that,” said Hull coach Peter Gentle.

Hull: McDonnell, Lineham, Arundel, Crooks, Briscoe, Horne, Heremaia, Watts, Houghton, Lynch, Westerman, Tickle, Pitts. Substitutes: O’Meley, Whiting, Bowden, Hadley.

Catalan Dragons: Escare, Pala, Menzies, Taia, Vaccari, Pryce, Barthau, Simon, Henderson, Casty, Elima, Anderson, Baitieri. Substitutes: Pelissier, Mounis, Fakir, Paea.

Referee: R Silverwood (RFL).