Hull FC 18-46 Castleford Tigers
The Black & Whites fell to a disappointing 18-46 defeat at the MKM Stadium as Castleford scored 32 second-half points.
Hull led 18-14 at the break after a lively opening forty, with scores from Vulikijapani, McIntosh, and Houghton, but it was the visitors who ran away with the scoreline after the break.
Hodgson made five changes to the side that was named ahead of last week’s clash against Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium, with several key players coming back into the side.
Jake Connor was named in the halves, making his first start since his knee injury sustained against Wakefield at the start of June.
Meanwhile, Connor Wynne, Ligi Sao, Kane Evans, and Jordan Johnstone all return from their respective suspensions.
Josh Griffin (quad) and Chris Satae (ankle) both drop out with injury, as well as young trio Jacob Hookem, Charlie Severs and Matty Laidlaw.
Adam Swift (leg), Manu Ma’u (hamstring), Ben McNamara (back), and Cameron Scott (groin) all remain on the sidelines, as well as long-term absentees Carlos Tuimavave (Achilles), Andre Savelio (knee) and Joe Cator (Achilles).
Castleford got their first points of the evening after three minutes when Danny Richardson slotted over a penalty goal.
And the Tigers soon had their first try of the evening when Derrell Olpherts got to a delicate Greg Eden grubber into the in-goal area. Richardson slotted over the kick.
The encounter was predicted to be a fiery one in the build-up, and it proved to be as the game hit the quarter-hour mark. Connor Wynne chased a Jake Connor grubber towards the corner, but was tackled off the ball in the process with an apparent shoulder charge. A scuffle ensued, which saw Wynne and Derrell Olpherts sent to the sin-bin.
But Hull made the most of the resulting penalty, scoring off the next set with the ball sent over to the left edge at pace, allowing Mitieli Vulikijapani to power over the try-line. Gale converted.
Hull piled on the pressure and were soon ahead, but only after a lengthy video referee referral. Darnell McIntosh got to the end of a Jake Connor grubber into the in-goal, just millimeters from the deadball line. Gale slotted over the goal.
The moment of the first-half came courtesy of Danny Houghton; Hull got a penalty on the half-way line, and caught the Tigers napping. Houghton’s quick tap saw him race away some fifty metres to touch down under the sticks, before being mobbed by his teammates. Gale made it three with the boot.
Castleford hit back though despite the period of Hull dominance, and it was Olpherts who bagged his second. He powered his way over the try-line, at first seemingly being held up, but managed to get an arm free to touch down. Richardson kicks a third goal.
For the full report follow the link.
Hull FC 18 (18)
Tries: Vulikijapani, McIntosh, Houghton. Goals: Gale (3).
Castleford Tigers 46 (14)
Tries: Olpherts (4), Faraimo (2), Matagi, Sutcliffe. Goals: Richardson (7).