Hull FC had a unique captain’s challenge go against them.
Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh saw a unique captains challenge go against him.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Andy Last was left confused by Hull FC’s unsuccessful captain’s challenge against Hull KR on Thursday night.
The challenge saw the decision to penalise Amir Bourouh for a ruck offence that was ‘against the spirit of the game’ stand, with the FC hooker judged to have deliberately passed the ball towards Rovers prop Sam Luckley, who was yet to clear the ruck after Hull played the ball.
According to Last, Bourouh was aiming to find half-back Jake Arthur to kick the ball, but the officials saw it differently, penalising the dummy half for a ruck infringement that came to light a few seasons ago.
The RFL operational rules state that ‘Any ball passed into an opposing player in and around the ruck, in any direction, will be deemed to be acting against the spirit of the game.’
This was deemed the case for Bourouh’s pass, with Arthur Mourgue taking the shot at goal to extend Hull KR’s lead to 20-14 in a game they ended up winning 34-20.
But Last has an alternative view and told Hull Live: “I’d rather not talk about the refs, but Rovers are very good at suffocating you for field position.
“They battered us and belted us, and we got to play five. We got what I would say is a win in the ruck because Sam Luckley is left in the ruck, and we needed to get the ball in our half-back’s hands so he could kick the ball long, and he didn’t get the opportunity to do that.
“I can’t understand how they have come up with that decision. When it’s going against you, it’s going against you. It was a tough night.”
Bourouh was taken off by Last later in the game, with Rovers closing out their ninth successive derby win.