Hull FC were undone by a woeful first half performance in Toulouse.
Hull FC were beaten at Toulouse.
Hull FC went down 44-30 to Toulouse Olympique on Friday night, with a woeful first half performance that was their worst of the season their undoing in the South of France.
Second best all over the field, Hull, who looked for shortcuts instead of knuckling down with hard work, were woeful for the opening 40 minutes, with Toulouse, along with York Knights, operating on half the funding as their Super League counterparts, running riot at a stinking hot Stade Ernest Wallon and, like the Knights, completing the double over FC this year.
A Championship outfit this time last year, Toulouse look now every bit the Super League side, and that’s more than can be said for this Hull outfit, who waved the white flag, at least in the first half, on the way to their 19th league defeat of the season – one that leaves them one of four sides at the foot of the table.
And doesn’t that just sum up the story of the year, with Hull, unless something drastically happens at Headingley next week, set for a second joint-bottom finish in three years. It’s not good enough, in fact, it goes beyond pathetic, and shows exactly why the changes are root and branch under Steve McNamara and co next year.
Hull just haven’t got things right this year. They’ve been hit with injuries throughout, but they’ve also looked so far off the pace to compete at this level. They are sluggish – and beaten to the punch all too regularly – but what was worst still in the Pink City was that attitude could be questioned, character could be questioned. That was only the case in one half against Leigh so far this season but in terms of desire, determination, grit, effort, and the like, Hull were found wanting. It was dire before a revival of sorts put some respectability into the score-line after a 30-0 half-time deficit.
On the contrary, Toulouse, who play a vibrant, energetic, and easy-on-the-eye brand of rugby league, were excellent. They toyed with Hull at times and had little trouble carving through them. They were everything Hull weren’t: pacey, in sync, and clinical.
They scored first through Henry O’Kane, and then they let loose with Luke Polselli getting on the end of a superb try from a kick return, but that alone showed Hull’s lack of urgency to get up field, to defend with line speed, and get in the face of Toulouse, who were given the freedom to express themselves – and that they did.
They scored again through James Roumanos, who barged over from close range in what was a pathetic defensive attempt. O’Kane then showed more desire to get his second try, getting on the end of a kick, before Toulouse scored again as Paul Ulberg hit Hull – who lost Ligi Sao to a failed HIA – out wide.
Hull then conceded again on the stroke of half-time, with Aidan Sezer impeding John Toleafoa and Toulouse taking a two point gift to take a 30-0 lead into the break.
The second half brought a revival for Hull, who scored three tries in quick succession, albeit they were damage limitation. But that nothing away from Lewis Martin, who finished superbly in the corner to get Hull on the board. Aidan Sezer then ran onto the ball strong and at pace to score, and after Logan Moy scored, FC were only 12 points down.
However, Toulouse composed themselves with a penalty goal that saw Harvie Hill sin binned for a dangerous contact, and when Cesar Rouge carved Hull up through the middle, the result was beyond doubt.
Hull got the next try through Sezer, who broke the line and dummied his way over to score again, with Olly Ashall-Bott then finishing a long range move and injuring himself in the process. The Black and Whites then got the final say, with Martin taking Sezer’s kick to score, but it was too little too late, and unfortunately for FC, not enough to gloss over what was a dreadful first half and another defeat.
Teams
Toulouse Starting XIII: 25. Luke Polselli; 5. Benjamin Laguerre, Romeo Tropis, 12. Mathieu Jussaume, Paul Ulberg; 6. Thomas Lacana, 29. Cesar Rouge; 8. Lambert Belmas, 9. Brendan Hands, 10. James Roumanos; 22. Henry O’Kane, 41. Louis Grossemy; 15. Joe Cator.
Interchange: 13. Anthony Marion, 30. Tiaki Chan, 40. John Toleafoa, 1. Olly Ashall-Bott. 18th Man: 20. Ajahni Wallace
Hull Starting XIII: 24. Logan Moy; 2. Harvey Barron, 3. Davy Litten, 21. Arthur Romano, 5. Lewis Martin; 6. Jake Arthur, 7. Aidan Sezer; 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Amir Bourouh, 10. Harvie Hill; 36. Lennon Clark, 39. Ethan O’Neill; 18. Ligi Sao.
Interchange: 32. Lloyd Kemp, 16. Sam Lisone, 22. Connor Bailey, 25. Matty Laidlaw. 18th Man: 26. Hugo Salabio
Scorers Toulouse Tries: O’Kane 2, Roumanos, Ulberg, Rouge, Ashball-Bott. Goals: Rouge 8/9
Hull Tries: Martin 2, Sezer 2, Moy. Goals: Sezer 5/5
Scoring System: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 28-0, 30-0, HT, 30-6, 30-12, 30-18, 32-18, 38-18, 38-24, 44-30, FT
Referee: Liam Rush. Video Referee: Tom Grant