Troubled Hull offer little in resistance to Giants

Paul Anderson’s side moved into the top four as they demonstrated yet again their stingy resilience and also avenge a 19-0 opening day home defeat to the Black and Whites.

That victory seems a long time ago now for Hull whose only breakthrough came in the 65th minute via a Steve Michaels try.

They are still only two points adrift of the top eight but equally so remain second bottom in Super League and the fare on show here was poor.

As he makes the first steps back into football, Hull chairman Adam Pearson was unveiled this week as an advisor to the new owner of Sheffield Wednesday who hold ambitions of returning to the Premier League by 2017.

The 50-year-old says it will not affect his role at the KC Stadium but after watching this he would be forgiven for feeling like taking North Ferriby to the elite is a better option than continuing with trying to revive the Airlie Birds’ fortunes.

Strangely, their defence is second only behind Huddersfield’s in Super League but you would not have guessed it last night as they were splintered all too easily on five occasions.

In contrast, the visitors’ rearguard was never truly tested by a side who remained predictable and jittery despite the return of scrum-half Marc Sneyd after an ankle injury. Huddersfield – solid and unflashy – were ahead inside 10 minutes when captain Danny Brough, one of Hull’s victorious Challenge Cup heroes a decade ago, straightened up to dart over after Mark Minichiello’s knock-on had been compounded by Setaimata Sa’s penalty.

Brough added the first of only two kicks and his side were able to add to that lead even when they had been reduced to 12 men.

Craig Huby had been yellow carded for a high shot on Jamie Shaul in the 22nd minute while holding up the dashing Hull full-back to prevent him from scoring.

That should have been the cue for the hosts to take advantage. Instead, Aaron Murphy was alert to deny Tom Lineham getting in at the corner and, moments later, Huddersfield scored at the other end.

Another penalty – Hull’s discipline was poor throughout – gave them position but there was no explanation as to how Ukuma Ta’ai, the big Tongan forward, was afforded so much space to easily skip through the line from 20m out.

Brough missed the simple conversion attempt but not much else went right for his former club.

Josh Bowden, the prop just back from injury, departed soon after coming on having seen his knee twist awkwardly as Leroy Cudjoe and Jamie Ellis tackled him.

It was Ellis who scored Huddersfield’s third try around 90 seconds before the interval.

The replacement hooker dabbed through a grubber that Michaels should have dealt with behind his own line but he dropped under a heavy tackle and Ellis picked up the pieces.

Brough’s kick gave them a 16-0 interval lead and, though Hull had ample possession and territory in the second period, that advantage never looked in danger.

Minichiello dropped another pass near their line as Danny Houghton tried powering him over and Shaul went close, breaking from Sneyd’s ball, but there was little else until that Michaels try scored on the left after Fetuli Talanoa had initially broken down the opposite flank.

In between, Michael Lawrence – getting a chance after on-loan Hull KR forward Jordan Cox went down with illness – walked over untouched for Huddersfield from a Scott Grix inside pass. Brough, in his 150th game for the club, skewed another simple kick but it mattered little now and it was left to winger Jermaine McGillvary to rub salt into the wounds with his fifth try of the season in the final seconds.

Huddersfield host leaders Leeds Rhinos on Thursday night, their next opponents having lost for only the second time this season beaten at home by Warrington Wolves last night.

“We’re just not a good enough side for six or seven blokes to throw in that sort of effort,” Hull coach Lee Radford said

“We don’t deserve to win any game with that rubbish.

“As a coach, it does knock you back.”

Hull FC: Shaul, Lineham, Talanoa, Yeaman, Michaels, Pryce, Sneyd, Paea, Houghton, Watts, Sa, Minichiello, Thompson. Substitutes: Bowden, Paleaaesina, Howarth, Cunningham.

Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy, Brough, Wood, Mullally, Robinson, Huby, Wardle, Hughes, Ta’ai. Substitutes: Crabtree, Lawrence, Kopczak, Ellis.

Referee: B Thaler (RFL).