London Broncos 12 Hull FC 14: Gentle fuming at Hull display despite Tickle’s late penalty

The Black and Whites needed a late Danny Tickle penalty to secure the two points in a game that went right to the wire.

And Gentle admitted his side need to step things up if they are to achieve anything this season.

Gentle said: “I’m pleased we got the win but there is not a lot else to be pleased about.

“Our kicking was poor and we forced too many passes.

“It was ruck and rumble for most of the contest and we gifted them far too many opportunities.

“If we want to be a top-four side, we have to be better than that,” he added.

Tickle’s successful kick 12 minutes from time at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium gave Hull an eight-point lead and London were unable to make up that gap despite going over for a converted try soon after.

Hull’s victory, which also saw Tickle convert tries from Ben Crooks and Richard Whiting, helps the Black and Whites maintain their play-off push while the Broncos continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table after losing a match they could easily have won.

Both Joe Westerman (shoulder) and Richard Horne (groin) returned for Hull among the substitutes.

London started the game on the front foot, with repeated sets in the Hull half finally seeing Kieran Dixon speed in at the corner inside the first 10 minutes.

Scrum-half Craig Gower was pulling all the strings, with the veteran’s kicking game pinning Hull back.

The visitors were producing a very sloppy display, with handling errors to the fore.

But with the hosts failing to cash in on their ascendancy, and Dan Sarginson being forced to depart with a head injury, Hull struck back midway through the half with a try from Crooks after good work from Willie Manu.

Gower thought he had given London the lead again just before the break when he stretched over, only for referee Thierry Alibert to chalk it off for crossing. The sloppiness continued after the interval, with handling errors stopping Hull gaining any momentum.

But it was Manu again that got them going, showing great strength to move the visitors to the line, with Whiting applying the finishing touch on 50 minutes.

The Broncos were having plenty of possession, but a lack of creativity was proving their undoing.

And as the half progressed the Black and Whites finally began exerting some authority, Horne’s kicking pinning London back at their sticks.

The game was still tight on the scoreboard, but Hull nudged further ahead when Tickle booted a penalty after Shane Rodney transgressed.

The Broncos came straight back though, Michael Robertson cashing in with a try on 72 minutes after Gower’s kick confused the Hull defence.

The Londoners continued to press, but were unable to find that decisive score.

Broncos coach Rob Powell said: “We defended really strongly today. I thought our energy levels were good and it was a bit of an arm wrestle.

“We were looking for a reaction and the players gave it a go.

“I know the fans want to see us trying different things and I really thought we did that.

“Now we need to show this type of form more consistently.”

London Broncos: Robertson, Dixon, Channing, O’Callaghan, Caro, Sarginson, Gower, Wheeldon, Witt, Clubb, Melling, Rodney, Bailey. Substitutes: Kaufusi, Bryant, Randall, B. Bolger.

Hull: Russell, Sharp, Turner, Crooks, T. Briscoe, Whiting, Seymour, Moa, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Tickle, Pitts. Substitutes: O’Carroll, Aspinwall, Westerman, Horne.

Referee: T Alibert (France)