Round 12
Hull FC 28 d. Huddersfield Giants 20

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Hull FC register third straight win
Mon April 28, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Hull FC registered a third straight win for the first time this year as they outplayed Huddersfield Giants at the KC Stadium with a performance to suggest their early season troubles may be over.

Peter Sharp's side have languished near the foot of engage Super League for most of the campaign due to a number of injuries and sub-standard performances, but inspired by their scrum-half Adam Dykes they were able to move to within touching distance of the top six.

Australian Dykes - playing his first league match for five weeks after an illness - was the linchpin for the Black and Whites, creating all four of their tries, two of which were scored by Todd Byrne.

Huddersfield, who have now gone four without a win in the league, never looked likely to win the match despite the closing deficit and travel to Cardiff for the Millennium Magic event in 11th place.

Despite a solid opening from both sides, Hull always looked the most threatening and went ahead with a 10th-minute penalty from Danny Tickle, who went on to bring up a century of points for the season.

It took until the 20th minute for either side to post a serious attack, though, and with it came the first try, Byrne notching his third of the season after a delightful pass from Dykes had sent Kirk Yeaman racing clear.

Hull's direct running was now starting to puncture the Huddersfield defence more easily and it was not long before Dykes was laying on two more tries.

Craig Hall was the first recipient, touching down in the corner after Dykes created a gap for himself and looped a neat ball out to the wing, before Danny Washbrook took in another pass from the former Cronulla man to brush off three tackles and score.

With captain Chris Thorman left out by Jon Sharp, Huddersfield found any direction in attack quite hard to come by, but did manage to score before the break, with Luke Robinson's 10th try of the season and two goals from youngster Tom Hemingway bringing them back to 18-8.

After going into the interval buoyed by that flurry of points, the visitors started the second period well and Rod Jensen thought he had scored in the corner, only to see play brought back for a forward pass from Leroy Cudjoe.

Cudjoe had a notable game at full-back but was unable to sweep across and stop Tickle adding a fourth Hull try with 46 minutes gone after Tommy Lee burst his way through the Huddersfield line.

The Giants did hit back with a solo effort from Steve Snitch, who bullied his way over from close range, only for Dykes to again redress the balance with a wonderful short pass that provided Byrne with a brace of tries.

Byrne - one of only two players to start every game for Hull in 2008 - last scored in his side's previous home win against Wakefield in March when he also scored twice.

With the clock now against them, Huddersfield did promote thoughts of a comeback when Paul Whatuira poached his sixth try of the season after Yeaman failed to deal with Robinson's kick through, but, despite Hemingway converting from the touchline, they left themselves with too much to do.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Hull FC blessed by squad returns


Airlie News: Hull FC v Huddersfield
Sat April 26, 2008
Source: www.hullfc.com

Hull FC coach Peter Sharp has made no secret of the fact he sees Sunday's engage Super League game with Huddersfield Giants at the KC Stadium as a key encounter to his sides bid to move up the table.

After putting together back to back wins for the first time this season with victories over Castleford Tigers and Rochdale Hornets, Sharp's men go into the Giants game having lost only one of their last four league and cup games.

With the two sides occupying the second and third from bottom positions, Sharp said: "This is an important game for both clubs but I'm only looking at us and we know how important a win is to us.

"I wouldn't say it was a must win game but I feel it is a game we certainly need to win.

"We have shown improvements in our last few matches and we're also beginning to get players back on the training field as well as in the team.

"I believe we have a lot of wins left in us this season and we'll be looking for a start at the weekend.

"Make no mistakes though this is a tough game for us because I rate Huddersfield and I believe they, like us, are in a false position.

"Jon Sharp has put together a good squad and, although they haven't hit their straps as yet I am sure they will and I also believe they are capable of climbing up the ladder into a top six place.

"Their form might not be great right now but they will come to the KC having already beaten us at the Galpharm in March and they also won here in Paul King's Testimonial game which I understand they were delighted about.

"We're going to have to play well to get the win we want out of this game."

Following a horror injury crisis which has ruled out anything from seven to nine of his senior and influential players, Hull are now beginning to get bodies back on the field and on the training ground again.

Although Hull still have five internationals missing this weekend (Richard and Graeme Horne, Matt Sing, Garreth Carvell and Paul King) the light is beginning to shine at the end of the tunnel.

Sharp said: "Richard Whiting is expected to be available this weekend after three and a half months out and we have Ewan Dowes and Motu Tony back after missing the cup game.

"Over the next few weeks we should have the likes of Garreth Carvell and Matt Sing fit and available again and that only leaves the Horne boys and Paul King.

"What that gives us is options, hopefully a selection headache for me, and bodies on the training field. We just haven't had that and if you don't training together then it's impossible to build up understandings and cohesion.

"That comes with training and playing together and I know once we have that our form will improve and the wins will come."

Kirk Yeaman looks at the game and his switch to right centre.

"This is a game we need to win," he said. "You only have to look at the league table to see that. A win would move us above them and hopefully close the gap on the teams around the top six mark.

"We're five points off the top six, which isn't a lot, but it would be good to start clawing that back.

"Looking ahead to the rest of the month we have a derby at Cardiff next week, then we're away to Harlequins and after the cup we play St Helens at the KC. These are all tough games but they are also winnable and if we can come out this period with maximum points or say six then we'll be right back in the mix.

"As for my switch to right centre I am enjoying it and don't mind at all playing on the right.

"I know Gaz (Raynor) and I had built up a good understanding on the left but I think the switch has been good for the team and we can always pick it up again somewhere down the line.

"At the moment I think I've helped tighten our defence on the right and hopefully I can help improve the attack as well which will give us more width.

"The switch also gives my game a bit extra because if you can play either centre position well then it has to be a bonus."

Squad: Berrigan, Byrne, Burnett, Cusack, Dowes, Dykes, Hall, Houghton, Lee, Manu, Radford, Raynor, Thackray, Tickle, Tony, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Whiting, Yeaman

Super League record against Huddersfield Giants
Home: played 10, won 8, drawn 1, lost 1, for 299, against 155
Away: played 14, won 8, drawn 0, lost 6, for 333, against 276
Total: played 23, won 16, drawn 1, lost 6, for 624, against 403

Top point scorers
Tries: Craig Hall 7; Gareth Raynor 4, Shaun Berrigan 3, Kirk Yeaman 3, Danny Tickle 3, Scott Wheeldon 3, Danny Houghton
Goals: Danny Tickle 40

Milestones
- Gareth Raynor needs two tries for a career century for the club
- Richard Horne also needs to two tries for his Hull career century
- Motu Tony is two games short of his 100 for the club
- Ewan Dowes will play his 150th game for Hull at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, next Sunday.
- Next Sunday's derby game against Hull KR at Cardiff will be Hull's 300th Super League match (inc. play offs)

News sent by: www.hullfc.com

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