Hull FC’s hunt for success on all fronts remains alive after a hard-fought victory to move into the last four of the Challenge Cup and a step closer to a first major trophy in 11 years.
Since their 46-6 defeat against Widnes in mid-March, Lee Radford’s side have been practically unbeatable, with this their 15th win in 16 games and their 10th in succession. In 2006, Hull put together a run of 13 consecutive victories on their way to the Super League Grand Final. This side undoubtedly resemble their best chance of success since then.
Once again the platform for the success of the Super League leaders came from their pack, with the outstanding Scott Taylor continuing to push for a place in the England squad for the Four Nations this year, despite missing out on the new England coach Wayne Bennett’s 31-man gathering this week.
With the pinpoint kicking of Marc Sneyd behind Taylor and the rest of the Hull forwards, FC were too strong and too smart for the Dragons.
“The lads are obviously in a great place,” Radford said. “We’re still in both competitions, the club has such a buzz about it and the players were a credit to themselves for how they performed.”
Laurent Frayssinous, the Dragons coach, accepted his team were second best but was unhappy with the relaid, heavily sanded pitch. “It’s ridiculous, for both teams.”
Catalans led 4-0 early on thanks to a well-taken try for the centre Benjamin Garcia but Hull finished the first half the stronger. Sneyd’s kicking became more and more influential and when the Dragons allowed a towering bomb from the scrum-half to bounce, Steve Michaels collected and touched down to put Hull ahead.
The arrival of Frank Pritchard from the bench gave Hull an undoubted lift as half-time approached and when he charged over the line soon after coming on the field and Sneyd converted to make it 12-4, the hosts took control.
With points at a premium, Danny Houghton’s try following a barnstorming run from Taylor as the hour mark approached always felt crucial and it signalled that there was effectively no way back from the Dragons, despite Fouad Yaha’s second-half try.
The final quarter was all about game management from the hosts, as two penalties from the reliable Sneyd increased the lead.
On this form, no one will fancy facing the Black and Whites in the semi-finals at the end of July.
