Hull FC are being widely tipped as title contenders this season, and at Emerald Headingley today they showed exactly why they are inspiring such confidence, with a confident display that saw them easily see off the challenge of Leeds Rhinos with a 30-4 victory.
Hull started the match in lively form, with Marc Sneyd landing an early penalty, and then scoring their first try from a superb break by Fijian winger Ratu Naulago, who broke downfield before feeding Carlos Tuimavave.
Jake Connor then created a try for Naulago, before Andre Savelio switched direction to feed Josh Bowden for Hull’s third try, while the Rhinos were held scoreless at half-time.
In the second half Hull extended their lead to 24 points with two penalties from Sneyd and Naulago scoring his second try.
But, as the conditions worsened with pouring rain, the Rhinos eventually replied, with Ash Handley touching down on the wing, and he almost scored a second, but was denied by the video referee Robert Hicks for putting a foot in touch.
But it was Hull who rounded off the scoring, when the former Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the Year Andre Savelio created the final try for Jamie Shaul, with Sneyd adding the conversion.
Leeds Rhinos: Walker, Newman, L Sutcliffe, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Oledzki, Dwyer, Prior, Martin, Ward, Smith; Subs: Myler, Mellor, Cuthbertson, Donaldson.
Tries: Handley Goals:
Hull FC: Shaul, Faraimo, Tuimavave, Griffin, Naulago, Connor, Sneyd, Taylor, Johnstone, Sao, Jones, Ma’u, Ellis; Subs: Satae, Lane, Bowden, Savelio.
Tries: Tuimavave, Naulago 2 Bowden, Shaul Goals: Sneyd 5
A full report and photos from this game will feature in Monday’s League Express.