Round 14
Hull FC 16 d. Leeds Rhinos 12

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Coaches Comments - Hull FC v Leeds (Round 14)
Wed May 23, 2007
Hull FC coach Peter Sharp and Leeds Rhinos boss Tony Smith look back at Sunday's game at the KC, which saw the black and whites pull off an important 16-12 victory over the joint Super League leaders.

Peter Sharp:

A better performance than last time out?

It was and it was the performance which was important to us.

Obviously, we wanted to win, the two points were very important, but it was how we played which concerned me more.

I was pleased with the way we played because I felt we got back to somewhere near how we performed last season.

The lads really did buckle down and ground out the win. That's what we did many times last year but haven't repeated this time around. Now the test is to back it up at Wigan and start playing with more consistency, it is our lack of consistency which has let us down so far.

How pleased were you with Craig Hall's performance?

He played okay. He got fairly well tested as we thought he might but he handled it pretty well. He's potentially so exciting but he is only young and you have to understand that he, like Thomas Lee and Anthony Thackeray, are only learning their trade and they will make mistakes. You have to accept that, it's all part of learn, but it's also important you persist and hang in there with them.

Richard Swain had another big game for you?

He's a real warrior isn't he and their aren't too many of them around. His experience at the top level, in NRL and Grand Finals, is so important to us. It is not just on the field where he sets an example it is off it as well. How he plays is testimony to his preparation and the way he gets ready for a game - he looks after himself so well. Because of that he's able to do what he does, play for 80 minutes, consistently pull off 50 tackles a game and everything else he provides.

Willie Manu and Hutch Maiava did well for you?

They did and I feel we're beginning to see the best of them and I'm confident they will improve further, which will be excellent for the team. I don't believe either Willie or Hutch have been as consistent as we'd have like but with an improvement in their fitness they are looking better. Both are exciting players and with an improvement in that consistency level they will be even more valuable and influential to the squad. Hutch did some great things against Leeds when he came on and we saw how exciting Willie can be. He's a good player, he's strong has good feet and a nice offload. Those are the qualities we brought him to the club to produce and with the hard work he is putting in we're now seeing the rewards.

Tony Smith:

You could have snatched it at the end?

It was touch and go I suppose and it came down to a few big plays. Unfortunately, we weren't good enough to take advantage. We seem to be getting into a habit of trying to snatch games late on and that's not the way we want it.

What's your view on the decisions that seemed to go against you?

We're not allowed to say anything. You just have to cop them but you have weeks when you get them and weeks when you don't. That is how it is these days and you just have to go with them and be good enough to overcome them when you don't get them. We're not going to complain about it.

How would you some up your performance?

We made too many errors with the ball, too many dropped balls in the play the ball area and we didn't learn from those errors.

You have to be a lot more secure with the ball than we were.

Having said that I felt we were outstanding in defence, especially considering the amount of defending we had to do on our line. We showed a real commitment to each other.


Hull FC hold out Leeds in thriller
Mon May 21, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Hull FC denied Leeds Rhinos a clear return to the engage Super League summit at the KC Stadium courtesy of a fine win that adds further mystery to their so far inconsistent season.

Although only scraping home by four points, coach Peter Sharp will no doubt highlight the huge improvement in their performance since their last league outing, a disappointing reverse against rivals Hull KR.

This, however, was only a third league success of the season at home for the 2006 Grand Finalists.

Sharp has identified the need for his side to improve and with their Challenge Cup quarter-final berth also secured, they may now well be moving in the right direction.

Leeds, who remain joint top alongside St Helens, ended up not far short of securing a win, although their error-ridden display would not have been deserving of the two points.

They spilt possession in key areas on several occasions although they could have stolen the game were it not for a fine tackle on Rob Burrow late by Shaun Briscoe.

After a lively start which saw Willie Manu almost create an opening for Briscoe, Hull opened the scoring thanks to a ninth minute penalty from Danny Tickle.

With a healthy crowd of just over 14,000 roaring them on, the home side were soon in full swing and five minutes later posted the game's opening try, Matt Sing the scorer.

The Australian winger was able to force his way through the Leeds defence from a tight angle after good work from Lee Radford and Craig Hall although the latter's pass which fed Sing was possibly forward.

Tickle added the touchline goal to extend Hull's lead to eight points.

Leeds were quick to respond however and soon posted their first try after Kevin Sinfield's wonderful loop pass from dummy-half found Jamie Jones-Buchanan who crashed over under the posts with Sinfield converting.

With Hull looking the livelier in attack, Richard Swain led them around the park well with a neat kicking game and, in a bid to prevent them gaining any momentum, Danny McGuire needlessly intercepted their attempted 20-metre restart to see himself sent to the sin-bin.

And, although Leeds looked the better side whilst a man down, Hull were able to end the half on a high.

After gaining some good field position, Richard Horne produced a deft kick which drifted through the Leeds line untouched, until Briscoe crept in to touch down.

Tickle's third goal of the half saw Hull lead 14-6 at the break.

With the Rhinos needing a positive start to the second half, their own profligacy with the ball did not help them as four times they spilt possession in their own half.

Hull's inability to punish them as a result of some poor last play options from Horne and Thomas Lee ensured the status quo.

Tickle's penalty from 45 metres then opened the scoring for the second half on the hour mark, extending Hull's lead to 10 points.

Brent Webb, the outstanding Leeds full-back, moved into the pivotal positions more as the game progressed in a bid to galvanise his side, which he did with his 15th try of the season after 67 minutes.

After Jamie Thackray sent Jordan Tansey racing clear, Sing appeared to have stopped Tansey in his tracks, only for Webb to support well and collect a pass to cross.

Burrow converted and then thought he had a chance to secure a win after racing clear down the left, only to see Briscoe appear to crunch him to the ground.

A spirited finale then ensued as Leeds probed for an opening but Hull, marshalled by the outstanding Swain, held on.

Hull FC (14) 16.
Tries: Sing, Briscoe.
Goals: Tickle 4.

Leeds Rhinos (6) 12.
Tries: Jones-Buchanan, Webb.
Goals: Sinfield, Burrow.

Hull FC: Briscoe, Sing, Hall, Yeaman, Raynor, R. Horne, Lee, Dowes, Swain, Carvell, Radford, Manu, Tickle.
Replacements: Tony, Domic, King, Maiava.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Kirke, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield.
Replacements: Tansey, Thackray, Ablett, Leuluai.

Referee: P Smith
Attendance: 14,256

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Sharp hails teamwork in win

Fri May 18, 2007
• Headingley Insight: Leeds v Hull FC
  

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