Hull FC end Rhinos losing streak

by NRL

Two scintillating tries by England winger Tom Briscoe helped Hull FC to a first win against Leeds in five years.

Hull ended an 11-game losing streak against the reigning champions that stretched back to 2007, while also halting a run of impressive results of late for the Rhinos.

The win lifts Hull to within three points of Stobart Super League leaders Wigan Warriors, while Leeds stay in seventh and a further three points behind.

The game had remained in the balance for long periods until Briscoe settled the result with an 80-minute breakaway try in front of watching national team coach Steve McNamara.

To compound Leeds' woes, teenager Ben Crooks, son of FC great Lee Crooks, then made the scoreline look even more flattering with his first career try in the closing minutes.

The Rhinos had gone in front early as Ben Jones-Bishop dotted down.

Hull had made the brighter start and, despite trailing, continued to control the early stages, restoring parity soon after thanks to Danny Tickle's eighth try of the season.

Tickle then thought he had handed Hull the lead when he collected half-back Brett Seymour's high kick, only to see his try chalked off by video referee Ian Smith for a knock on in grounding the ball.

Handed a free role in the halves, Seymour was pulling the strings effectively for the home side with the Aussie showing the type of direction Hull had missed in his absence against Wigan last time out.

After their let-off, the Rhinos took full advantage, showing their clinical edge as Kevin Sinfield found Carl Ablett with a perfectly timed pass to put the centre in at the corner.

Undeterred, Hull came back once again, catching Leeds cold with two tries in as many minutes as they made sure of going in at the break holding the advantage.

First, winger Will Sharp weaved his way across to finish a flowing move out wide started by influential hooker Danny Houghton.

Then, straight from the kick-off, Willie Manu's pass inside his own half set free teenager Crooks, who in turn put Briscoe on his way for a try by the posts.

Starting the second half as they had the first, Hull wasted little time extending their advantage to eight points when Tickle added to his tally with a penalty from in front of the posts.

Two further penalties allowed Tickle to hand his side some breathing room on the scoreboard.

Those proved key as Ryan Hall crossed for Leeds with 15 minutes remaining; when Sinfield missed the conversion, the Rhinos were left needing a further two scores.

Danny McGuire did go over for another Leeds try, but by then it was mere consolation as Briscoe had already picked up his second of the night and Crooks his first.

Briscoe's, in particular, was a stunning effort; he bust through a clutch of tacklers before powering clear.

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