Hull FC were defeated 22-14 by Castleford Tigers on Friday night as the club’s search for a home win continues. Elsewhere, the reserves defeated Hull KR, while there was also a win for the women’s team. Here is the latest notebook.
Attention to Salford
It was a disappointing defeat for Hull on Friday, but there’s no time to dwell on it, with Salford Red Devils up next on Sunday afternoon. And although a nine-day turnaround allows the team to thoroughly recover and prepare for it, head coach John Cartwright wants to get back to it as soon as possible.
Speaking to Hull Live, he said: “Talk to the boys, and we’d rather play tomorrow, to be honest with you. We’d like to get that out of our system as quickly as we can, but we know what’s in front of us. We said to the players after the game, ‘If you don’t know what’s going wrong, then it’s hard to fix,’ but there are some fixes there that we all realise. We’ve got to take it onto the field now and fix it. Professional footballers shouldn’t make that many errors.”
Watts offers boost to side
Hull FC are hoping to have Liam Watts back for the Salford game. The prop forward is back in full training after a frustrating and troublesome calf injury and will look to make his second appearance since returning to the club. “He should be (on track to play,” Cartwright told Hull Live on Friday. “We’ll get through training, and then we’ll make a decision.” Cartwright also confirmed no injuries were picked up against Castleford. He added: “I think we’re okay.”
Grass pitch solution
Hull FC are looking for a more permanent grass solution, with the grass pitches at their University of Hull training base ‘too hard’ to train on. Currently, the squad are training on the 4G surface on site, but there is a desire to get out on grass this summer. Where that leads Hull in the future is currently unclear, but it’s interesting to note Hull’s partnership with Cottingham Tigers over the weekend – with the local community club hosting the reserves derby between Hull and Hull KR on Saturday afternoon.
With the first-team squad using the swimming and recovery facilities at the nearby Total Fitness gym, would it be viable to see the two clubs link up more in the future? With financial clout in co-owners Andrew Thirkill and David Hood, Hull Live suspects this is more than just a fantasy, with the club again looking for a permanent solution. Head coach John Cartwright told Hull Live: “We look at everything. But the simple answer is we’ve got no option at the moment (to train on 4G). The grass pitches are too hard, and until we can find somewhere permanent, we’ve got to stay on as consistent a surface as we can.”
While the club has a healthy and prosperous partnership with the university, could a long-term partnership with Cottingham Tigers be the answer until the grass pitches on site are dealt with? Investment would need to be spent on the surface at the Hilltop site, but it could be something that the club at least has on their mind. They are definitely looking at options.
And as for the reserves game…
Hull FC were good value for their win over Hull KR. Reserves rugby league is always tricky; they play biweekly, and sides are usually put together with not much preparation or time together. However, there were a few green shoots for Hull.
The half-back combination of Jack Charles and Callum Kemp was easy on the eye, with both players working together and following each other around the field. In the pack, Cobie Wainhouse really led the charge. He was very good. Back rowers Lennon Clark and Zach Jebson also impressed, while there were welcome runouts for the likes of Logan Moy. Hull also fielded a trial winger in Jack Rampton. You can read an update on him here. And for Francis Cummins’ views on the game, click here.
Meanwhile, the derby victory put Hull’s reserves up to second in the table. They have won six of eight games so far this season and currently sit level on points with Leeds – albeit the Rhinos have a better points difference and a game in hand. Wigan and Warrington sit two points behind Hull and also have a game in hand. The top two teams contest the reserves grand final at the end of the year.
Loan appearances
Hull FC duo Will Kirby and Ryan Westerman both started for Hunslet against Featherstone Rovers on Sunday afternoon. The Leeds-based side were edged out 26-24, with Westerman starting at centre and Kirby in the back row.
Women win
Hull FC women defeated Oulton Raidettes 14-12 on Sunday afternoon, with tries coming from Alyx Worth and Kayleigh Waller. The victory was Hull’s second league scalp of the season, with the side back in the Championship after winning the Women’s League 1 Grand Final last season.