With the Leeds Rhinos having jumped into third spot in the
table, the onus switched to the Leigh Leopards who wanted to take their place
back as they travelled to the east coast to take on Hull FC, themselves needing
the win to maintain their push for the top six and the play-offs.
The bookies were struggling to pick a favourite and went for
league position, fourth placed Leigh given a two-point handicap over the side
in sixth spot in the table.
The sides drew 22-22 in March and Hull won the round twelve game
in May by 26-12 at the Leigh Sports Village.
It was the perfect opening for Hull FC, Cade Cust busting
the line on six minutes to score a fifteen metre try by the left upright. Zak
Hardaker added the conversion, the home support delighted.
A scrappy build up led to a great try from Hull FC which saw
them extend their lead on twenty-six after Cust collected his own kick and then
found Harvey Barron with a long pass, the winger scoring a superb one-handed
try in the right corner. Hardaker added the touchline conversion for 12-0 with
twenty-seven minutes of the half elapsed.
Hull FC were great value for their half time lead, Adrian
Lam on his way to the changing rooms to strip the paint off the walls.
Umyla Hanley was held up over the line within two minutes of
the restart as the Airlie Birds defence held firm.
On fifty minutes the Leopards finally got their opening
points, Lachlan Lam shaking off the tacklers and managing to force the ball to
the ground by the left upright. Referee Kendall sent the decision to the video
referee as a TRY and there was insufficient evidence for his initial decision
to be overruled. Gareth O’Brien added the conversion, the Hull lead down to six
points.
Five minutes after their opener, O’Brien collected an Edwin
Ipape offload to evade the attempted tackles and spin over the line by the left
upright. O’Brien converted his own try for 12-12 with twenty-three minutes left,
the visitors with the momentum.
Totally against the run of second half play, FC grabbed the
lead back on fifty-nine thanks to a wayward Leigh pass which was kicked
forwards and collected by Lewis Martin who went forty metres to score under the
posts. Hardaker was on target for the third time for a six-point lead.
With four minutes left on the clock Hull were awarded a
penalty thirty-eight from the sticks but Zak Hardaker pushed his kick wide of
the uprights.
Leigh tried everything in the closing seconds but couldn’t
get the points as they crashed to a second consecutive defeat.
This was a stunning, and for most an unexpected, win for Hull FC
and one which will shock the Leigh Leopards and which could see them finish the
weekend in fifth place as they seemingly lose their mojo at just the wrong time in the
season. Hull FC are now three clear of Wakefield in seventh place, although it
is highly likely that they will be awarded a win for the cancelled game against
Salford.
Hull FC: Pryce, Barron (T), Briscoe, Litten, Martin (T), Hardaker
(G 3/4), Cust (T), Ese’ese, Bourouh, Watts, Cartwright, Lane, Asiata. Subs: Aydin,
Ashworth, Eseh, Kemp. 18th Man: Laidlaw.
Leigh Leopards: Hodgson, Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, O’Brien
(T, G 2/2), Lam (T), Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Trout, Liu. Subs:
Hughes, O’Neill, Davis, McNamara. 18th Man: Tuitavake.
Half-Time: 12-0.
Full-Time: 18-12.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0 : HT: 12-4, 12-6, 12-10,
12-12, 16-12, 18-12 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Hull – Square - Hull.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
