After a gutting end to their season which has seen their play-off hopes slip away, Hull FC needed a win to end the season much more positively and against the relegated Toulouse this was the best chance for Brett Hodgson and co to create a bit of momentum going into 2023.
Highlights:
Connor masterclass
Jake Connor conjured up three of Hull’s four first half tries with some lovely passes and in the second half his chip kick paved the way for Ellis Longstaff to score. He also kicked five goals on the afternoon.
Backrowers shine
Both backrowers got tries. Longstaff firstly pounced on that opportunity crafted by Connor before Jordan Lane burst through showing great pace to score on his 100th appearance.
Mitieli Vulikijapani shines
An underrated option for Hull FC in the backs, he scored two lovely tries and both times showed lovely pace to finish off chances from long range.
Match Report:
On a day Hull FC needed to make a statement to the rest of the league and their own fans after a disappointing end to 2022 whilst looking ahead to 2023, the Black and Whites wasted little time in making a splash against the Robins.
Young Harvey Barron scored his first senior try to get things started thanks to a lovely assist from Jake Connor who created the try with a cut out pass.
Connor converted and again showed his quality to create Barron’s second just six minutes later. This time the score came from a scrum. Connor’s pass again sending Barron in to score.
Barron claimed his first senior try and was soon followed by reserve prop Will Gardiner.
Starring at loose-forward and wearing remarkably the number 42 shirt, Gardiner took stand-in hooker Jordan Johnstone’s short ball to score.
Then the try of the first half courtesy of Mitieli Vulikijapani showing great pace to dance through the Toulouse left before showing great pace to race away to score.
It was Connor’s third assist of the first half and he added his fourth goal of the afternoon to make it 24-0 at the break.
The Black and Whites were much slower starters in the second half with Guy Armitage of Toulouse getting the first try of the second half 20 minutes into the contest showing good power to get over the line.
That sparked Hull back into life and four minutes later Ellis Longstaff scored from a lovely chip from Jake Connor which was claimed by young Barron who then set up Longstaff.
His fellow backrow then followed suit three minutes later as Jordan Lane crowned his 100th appearance with a barnstorming run to make it 34-6 after Connor’s conversion.
The French side did get themselves on the board again as Ilias Bergal showed great pace to finish off a lovely move down the right.
But quite rightly, Hull rounded off the win with one more try another long range effort from Vulikijapani. He was set away by Johnstone who pounced on a loose ball.
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