Round 8
Hull FC 26 l. Leeds Rhinos 34

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Hull FC
Gareth Raynor [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
Paul Cooke [F8] 4 Pts; 2g
Kirk Yeaman [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Richard Horne [HB] 4 Pts; 1t
Sid Domic [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Danny Brough [BE] 2 Pts; 1g

Leeds Rhinos
Danny McGuire [F8] 8 Pts; 2t
Rob Burrow [HB] 8 Pts; 4g
Chev Walker [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Willie Poching [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
Ali Lauitiiti [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
Shane Millard [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
Kevin Sinfield [LK] 2 Pts; 1g



Heroic display by Leeds sess off Hull FC
Sun April 9, 2006
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

This was the first time the two teams had met since last year's Powergen Challenge Cup Final although Hull were minus one major factor in that Final success, their coach John Kear.

Kear parted company with the Airlie Birds this week but his former charges showed little after effect of the change of management as they raced to a 6-0 lead inside four minutes. Paul Cooke created the chance with a great miss pass and former Rhino Gareth Raynor was on hand to touch down in the corner despite pressure from Rob Burrow, Cooke added the conversion.

The Rhinos hit back three minutes later with a brilliant try for Danny McGuire. Play seemed to be going nowhere when Richard Mathers picked up a bouncing ball from a loose kick, however he fed Scott DOnald who brilliantly passed one handed to Chev Walker. Walker slipped a pass inside to McGuire, who checked his run then sprinted in for the try. Sinfield added the conversion to level the score.

However, Hull showed real character and hit back after 13 minutes with a try from Kirk Yeaman. The Rhinos will have been disappointed with some weak defence which led to the score. Yeaman brushed off an initial tackle 15 metres out and sprinted in for the score. Cooke missed the conversion.

Worse was to come for the Rhinos as they defended their own line after 17 minutes, talismanic captain Kevin Sinfield caught his leg underneath the tackled player and appeared to suffer a serious injury before being stretchered from the field.

Hull's next try took a long deliberation by the video ref before it was finally awarded to Sid Domic. Keith Senior had made a great cover tackle on Chris Chester and the ball bounced loose. The video ref adjudged it was Senior's hand that had dislodged the ball and awarded the try to Domic, who had collected the loose ball. Cooke added the conversion to make it 16-6.

The Rhinos resources were being badly stretched now with Lee Smith limping off with an ankle injury however they showed real determination to hit back. Jamie Peacock produced a powerful run before passing to McGuire to score his 13th try of the season. Burrow added the conversion to make it 16-12 after 33 minutes.

However, anything McGuire could do, Raynor matched as he ran in for his second try of the game. Hull moved the ball wide and Raynor crashed over passed the tackle of Burrow. Brough's attempted conversion hit the post and bounced out to leave it 20-12 at half time.

The Rhinos got off to the best possible start to the second half when Willie Poching showed incredible strength to hold off three would be tacklers to touch down after 44 minutes. Burrow added the conversion to make it 20-18 to Hull.

Hull managed to extend their lead after 52 minutes but not without controversy. Ryan Bailey appeared to strip the ball from Ewan Dowes one on one but was penalised for the faintest of touches by Chris Feather. Hull moved the ball down field and Richard Horne cut through the line to score. Brough added the conversion to make it 26-18.

However, the Rhinos struck back within ten minutes with McGuire the conductor, he sprinted across the face before passing to Feather who flicked the pass back to McGuire. He passed to Senior who tipped the ball onto Chev Walker to power in at the corner. Burrow added a brillaint touchline conversion to make it 26-24 to Hull.

Hull had enjoyed a 94% completion rate in the first half but they were under constant pressure from the Rhinos now and it eventually told. A lovely grubber kick by McGuire bounced off the post into the arms of Shane Millard who dived over. Burrow added the conversion to give the Rhinos the lead for the first time in the game after 66 minutes.

The Rhinos then produced some outstanding defence including a brilliant try saver by McGuire on Brough to maintain their lead and secured a heroic win at the KC Stadium.

Report source: www.leedsrugby.com

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