The Hull FC coach on the two sin bins, Lloyd Kemp, and Sam Lisone.
Hull FC’c captain Aidan Sezer watches as Harvie Hill is sin-binned against Toulouse.
Andy Last has criticised the sin bin handed to Hull FC prop forward Harvie Hill, with the interim coach questioning why there was no punishment for Toulouse Olympique counterpart Lambert Belmas.
The two players were involved in a confrontation during Friday’s 44-30 loss in the South of France, with Belmas making contact with Hill in a melee, who returned serve and was subsequently yellow carded.
Belmas received no punishment, with Toulouse awarded the penalty and adding two points via a successful conversion to take the score from 30-18 to 32-18.
And Last, who watched his side defeated in conditions that reached 38 degrees at the Stade Ernest Wallon, has taken issue with the call, also referencing inconsistency in terms of Aidan Sezer, who was also sin binned just before half-time for what was deemed a professional foul on Toulouse forward John Toleafoa.
“We’ve had to play another 20 minutes down to 12, which doesn’t help in these conditions,” Last said post-match. “The Harvie one is a tough one, if I’m being honest. Quite clearly Belmas has got hold of his jersey; he gives him a thumb, and obviously Harvie is a front-row forward so he returned serve.
“I’m a little bit disappointed in that one. He’s got ten minutes in the bin and then Aidan Sezer got ten minutes in the bin for an obstruction. We saw an obstruction last week that we didn’t get, so it’s a bit inconsistent, but there you go.”
Elsewhere, Last praised Lloyd Kemp for an encouraging display off the bench. Hull were woeful in the first half, trailing 30-0 at half-time, but they did improve after the break, albeit the damage was already done and Toulouse perhaps eased off, but that didn’t take anything away from the FC teenager, who played at hooker for around an hour.
“He did really well, Lloyd,” Last said. “He’s added another string to his bow. He competes hard. He’s really fit and that really helped him in that nine position. His service was good, he was competitive and tenacious, and he’s added a position to the numerous positions he’s capable of playing. That’s a credit to him. He did a great job for us. He played exceptionally well.”
Asked if Kemp could start at Leeds Rhinos in Hull’s final game next week, Last continued: “It’s a little bit different starting a game than coming off the bench, especially against the Rhinos. We’ll tone it down a bit. We’ll make sure we manage Lloyd and make sure we aren’t putting him in the superstar bracket just yet. He’s a good kid, though, and he did a good job.”
Last also praised Sam Lisone for what he labelled his best game for the club – and certainly since returning from injury.
“I reckon that was Sam’s best game that he has played for us and no coincidence with a little bit more ball when he’s on,” Last said. “That’s when Sam is a real threat and strength for us.
“The other side of the game he needs to keep working at, the defensive side of it, but we had a fair bit of ball when he was on the field and he showed how strong he can be carrying the ball.
As for Connor Bailey, who linked the middle well when he came on at loose-forward, and Lewis Martin, who scored two tries, Last added: “Connor did okay. He showed some nice touches and was a good link in the middle of the field.
“There were some decent carries from Lewis. He took his opportunities well.”