Hull FC 19 Leeds Rhinos 18: It's one-point agony again for the Rhinos

FOR THE second time in seven days Leeds Rhinos lost by a point after leading going into the final 10 minutes.
Matt Parcell's penalty tryMatt Parcell's penalty try
Matt Parcell's penalty try

They hit back from 14-0 down after 44 minutes to lead 18-14, but a Hull levelled matters and Marc Sneyd’s one-pointer won it for them with four minutes left.

The 19-18 defeat was the third time – in four losses this season – Rhinos have been pipped by a single point, following the games against Castleford Tigers and last week’s 9-8 reverse by Wigan Warriors.

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Hull scored four tries to three and dominated much of the first half, but lacked creativity against a strong Leeds defence and led only 8-0 at the interval.

Jamie Jones-BuchananJamie Jones-Buchanan
Jamie Jones-Buchanan

Rhinos were still in it, but a converted try at the start of the second half seemed to have left them with too much to do.

They responded quickly and then two tries in as many minutes midway through the half edged them into a scarcely believable four-point lead.

Hull replied with an unconverted touchdown nine minutes from time and there was an inevitability about the way the game was snatched away from Leeds.

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It was Leeds’ first defeat at KCOM Stadium since 2014 and the first time they have lost back-to-back league matches since May/June 2016.

Ryan HallRyan Hall
Ryan Hall

Rhinos were second-best for much of the game, but there is no doubting their spirit and effort. The likes of Kallum Watkins, Matt Parcell and Adam Cuthbertson could not have done much more, but it was a disappointing result for Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s 400th Leeds game.

They really need, though, to learn how to set up for a drop goal and how to defend in similar circumstances.

Maybe the lack of their big men, which they have coped with pretty well so far, is beginning to take its toll.

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Brad Singleton was ruled out due to an ankle problem and joined fellow front-rowers Mitch Garbutt and Nathaniel Peteru on the casualty list.

Marc Sneyd boots the winning drop goalMarc Sneyd boots the winning drop goal
Marc Sneyd boots the winning drop goal

Rhinos – who are another prop down after Keith Galloway’s departure – struggled to make ground up the middle, though Anthony Mullally injected some power off the bench.

Leeds were outmuscled generally, players being dragged into touch three times and they also struggled to cope with Hull’s kicking game on the last.

In the first half Leeds created some chances, but were unable to take them. At half-time they had scored one try in three halves of rugby, but three touchdowns in 10 minutes illustrated what they are capable of.

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Brett Ferres’ return, in place of previously ever-present Singleton, was the only change to the 17 beaten by Wigan Warriors last week.

Jamie Jones-BuchananJamie Jones-Buchanan
Jamie Jones-Buchanan

Ferres was among the substitutes and Adam Cuthbertson stepped into the front-row for his 100th Leeds appearance.

Josh Walters warmed up as 18th man and Liam Sutcliffe, Brad Dwyer and Jack Walker remained on the injury list and Stevie Ward went off hurt in the second half.

Sneyd fluffed the game’s first opportunity when he collected a kick and should have used Josh Griffin, who was on his left shoulder in support a few metres out, but didn’t and was wrapped up by the defence on the last.

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Leeds’ defence had to be on their mettle after Tom Briscoe spilled Kelly’s kick close to Rhinos’ line. Scott Taylor thought he had scored in the resulting set, but referee Ben Thaler passed the decision on as ‘no try’ and video assistant Phil Bentham agreed, not bothering to check the grounding after spotting an obstruction.

Soon afterwards, Jones-Buchanan was penalised for tackling Jamie Shaul in the air and Hull scored on the resulting attack, Jake Connor brushing off Joel Moon with ease and powering over too far out for Sneyd to convert.

A break by Cuthbertson and Briscoe’s run from Kallum Watkins’ pass provided Rhinos’ only attacking opportunities in the opening quarter.

Ryan HallRyan Hall
Ryan Hall

Soon into the second Leeds had a spell of three successive sets – from two drop-outs and a penalty – on Hull’s line.

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The penalty was for a high shot by Kelly which left Jones-Buchanan with a bloody nose. Briscoe and Stevie Ward both went close, but nothing came of it, Thaler allowing Hull to play on after Kelly had dropped Myler’s kick.

Ten minutes before the break Watkins and Briscoe were twice involved in a move which came close to producing a Leeds try, but Ash Handley was halted just short of the line by Paea and Danny Houghton as he tried to stretch over. Ferres crossed on the next play, the last, but Myler’s pass was well forward.

Seven minutes before the break Hull went further in front when Rhinos failed to deal with a last tackle kick for the third time in the game, Hull got a repeat set off Ryan Hall’s hand and Houghton and Kelly linked to send Bureta Faraimo over, though Sneyd’s kick was off-target.

Mikolaj Oledzki, on as a replacement prop, almost got Leeds back into it just before the interval, but knocked on just short.

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Briscoe was dragged into touch, after catching a kick, twice in as many minutes at the start of the second half, by Carlos Tuimavave and then Fetuli Talanoa.

Rhinos survived the first time, Watkins – assisted by Golding and Jones-Buchanan – holding Griffin up over the line.

But on the second occasion Kelly sent Connor over and Sneyd’s touchline conversion opened a three-score gap.

Three successive penalties gave Leeds an opportunity to get back into the game and Hall produced an excellent finish, reaching out to touch the ball down on the whitewash after Moon and Myler had handled.

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That was Rhinos’ first try in 110 minutes. Bentham confirmed the score and Watkins converted superbly from the touchline.

With 20 minutes left Moon swooped over after Leeds ran the ball on the last, Myler playing a one-two with Ward before providing the final pass.

Thaler thought he had spotted an obstruction, but was overruled by Bentham. Watkins’ goal made it a two-point ball game and Leeds were ahead, controversially, moments later.

Myler grubbered over the line and Parcell appeared to touch down. Thaler handed it on as a try, replays showed Parcell had lost possession, but had been tripped by Josh Bowden. A penalty try was awarded, but – though Hull were on a team warning, there was no card.

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Watkins’ conversion made it 18-14. Hull applied all the pressure after that and were level with nine minutes left. Kelly’s kick was brilliantly taken by Talanoa and he offloaded over the line to Tuimavave, who touched down.

Sneyd again failed to convert, but booted a one-pointer with four minutes left. Rhinos tried to set up for a drop goal after that, but couldn’t and their chance of salvaging something disappeared when Golding slid a kick dead.

The penalty count was 11-11 (six-six in the first half).

Rhinos under-19s face Wakefield Trinity academy at Stanningley tonight (7pm).