Hull FC halfback Marc Sneyd has won his second golden-point game as he kicked a field goal in extra time to defeat Catalans Dragons 30-31 in Perpignan this afternoon.
In a side that gave debuts to Jack Brown and Levy Nzoungou and with youngster Connor Wynne making only his second appearance at fullback, the odds looked to be stacked against the Airlie Birds, but they gave an outstanding display.
The Catalans took an early lead when Sam Tomkins created a fine try for Tony Gigot, with Tomkins adding the conversion and a penalty to give the Dragons an eight-point lead on 25 minutes.
But from that point Hull replied with three tries by debutant Brown, youngster Connor Wynne and veteran Josh Griffin, all converted by Sneyd, to take an 8-18 lead at the interval.
The Dragons replied in the second half when Sam Kasiano created a try for Jason Baitieri. Griffin and Benjamin Garcia then both scored tries for the scoreline to move to 20-24 on 60 minutes. Bureta Faraimo extended Hull’s lead with an unconverted try.
Fouad Yaha brought the score back to 24-28 on 70 minutes, and they appeared to have drawn level when Matt Whitley scored, but the video referee Scott Mikalauskas confounded the crowd by finding obstruction in the buildup.
But when Kasiano touched down under the posts with two minutes to go, and Tomkins converted, the game looked to be in the Dragons’ hands. But Sneyd converted a late penalty from the half way line and then added the final field-goal to secure a famous victory.
Catalans: Tony Gigot, Lewis Tierney, Samisoni Langi, Brayden Wiliame, Fouad Yaha, Sam Tomkins, Lucas Albert, Julian Bousquet, Alrix Da Costa, Sam Moa, Bernard Jullien, Matt Whitley, Rémi Casty; Subs: Benjamin Garcia, Greg Bird, Jason Baitieri, Sam Kasiano.
Tries: Gigot, Baitieri, Garcia, Yaha, Kasiano Goals: Tomkins 5
Hull FC: Connor Wynne, Jack Logan, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Bureta Faraimo, Jake Connor, Marc Sneyd, Jordan Thompson, Danny Houghton, Gareth Ellis, Sika Manu, Mark Minichello, Dean Hadley; Subs: Albert Kelly, Jordan Lane, Levy Nzoungou, Jack Brown
Tries: Brown, Wynne, Griffin 2, Faraimo Goals: Sneyd 5; Field Goal: 1
A full report and photos from this game will feature in Monday’s League Express.
