Hull’s Andy Last has sympathy for opposite number Daryl Powell

HULL FC head coach Andy Last had sympathy with Castleford Tigers counterpart Daryl Powell over a controversial call in Thursday’s Super League game but reminded him about playing to the whistle.

The Airlie Birds edged a thrilling contest 32-28 with Jake Connor’s 77th-minute converted try proving the difference at the end.

However, Castleford chief Powell was irate about a number of refereeing decisions, not least Jordan Johnstone’s bizarre 30th minute try.

The Hull hooker had been involved in a bust-up in midfield after Jacques O’Neill’s late tackle on FC’s Joe Cator.

But, as fighting continued among numerous players and with play going on beyond them, he eventually decided to leave the melee and instead speed up field to support Jake Connor to score his first try in Hull colours.

Powell was furious that the video referee did not disallow the try, claiming it was a “nonsensical” decision as Hull should have been penalised for Cator’s reaction which saw O’Neill put on the floor and taken out of the defensive equation.

“It was a tough call; I can see why Daryl (Powell) was so frustrated with it,” conceded Last.

“But play continued. The ref’ did not blow his whistle and you have to continue playing until the whistle. That is something you get taught in the junior days. But because the referee did not blow, as he suspected no foul play, we carried on, some members of their team carried on and, obviously, we ended up scoring.

“I can understand Daryl’s frustration because there are five or six players who probably would have been running back and put themselves in position to make a tackle on Jordan Johnstone.

“Players being players, a little bit of a fight starts, everyone wants to run in and show how tough they are and, unfortunately for them, it cost them a try which was a key score.”

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Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.