Round 17
Hull FC 40 d. Castleford Tigers 14

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Hull FC enjoy biggest win of the season
Mon June 16, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Hull FC's biggest engage Super League win of the season saw them hand Richard Agar his first win as coach in the competition as they got the better of Castleford Tigers in an enjoyable 40-14 derby game at the KC Stadium.

Agar, who took over from Peter Sharp on a permanent basis three weeks ago, has achieved success as caretaker coach in the past but this result not only marked his first full-time success but also helped his side open up a five-point gap between them and the Tigers, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just three victories to their name.

Agar can thank Danny Washbrook for his contribution to the win with the stand-off magnificent in both and attack and defence, although a hat-trick from Craig Hall and two tries in four minutes just before the interval were equally decisive factors for the home side.

Having come into the game with only a commendable Carnegie Challenge Cup win at Bradford Bulls punctuating a wretched run of four straight league defeats, the Black and Whites were in need of a good opening and achieved one through Tom Briscoe's first career try.

Washbrook had already looked dangerous with a promising half-break, before superb reverse passes from Kirk Yeaman and Willie Manu sent 17-year-old Briscoe racing in for a sixth-minute opener. Danny Tickle added the goal.

Tickle and former Hull player Kirk Dixon then traded penalties, as the Tigers lost hooker Scott Moore to a worrying-looking leg injury.

A period of Castleford pressure ensued but they ended up grateful to Dixon for a superb last-ditch ankle tap on Washbrook after he, Yeaman and Todd Byrne had produced three scintillating breaks to take their side the length of the field after Washbrook had intercepted Brent Sherwin's kick.

Ever-involved, Washbrook pierced the Castleford defence again a minute later only for the move to break down, and his side found themselves level shortly after as Craig Huby went over for Castleford.

After Sherwin's neat sliderule kick had split the Hull defence, Washbrook appeared to have held up the move and gained revenge on Dixon by pinning him down close to the line, only for the centre to slip the ball out for the supporting Huby to crash over.

Hull were soon back in front however, with Byrne and Matt Sing combining to lay on a try for substitute Hall, before Yeaman grabbed himself a deserved score just seconds before the interval as he plucked Adam Dykes' kick out of the air to touch down.

Despite trailing by 10 points at the break, the visitors flew out of the traps in the second half, scoring through Ned Catic's first try since his return to engage Super League, although Dixon's conversion was soon cancelled out by another Tickle penalty.

Hall's second try - on the back of a smart grubber kick from Dykes - soon extinguished any hopes of a Castleford comeback, while Tickle added another penalty to underline Hull's control over the contest.

Garreth Carvell was then sent to the sin-bin for Hull after blocking off Sherwin, but Castleford were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage and slipped even further adrift when Hall secured his hat-trick off another clever ball from Dykes.

The floodgates were now open despite Hull's handicap and Yeaman grabbed himself a second, picking off Sherwin's pass to race 40 metres to the line.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Agar pleased to get first victory


Airlie News: Hull FC v Castleford
Fri June 13, 2008
Source: www.hullfc.com

Hull FC coach Richard Agar has more than one reason for wanting his side to beat Castleford Tigers at the KC Stadium on Sunday (3:15pm).

Obviously, he wants the points to lift his Hull side away from the bottom of the engage Super League table but this game is a little more personal.

Agar not only wants to outwit his opposite number Terry Matterson on the football field but he wants revenge for a few beatings on the squash court.

"Terry and I are good person friends and we play squash fairly regularly," revealed Agar. "Right now Terry has the edge and he has put me to the sword more often that not. So, I hope I can get a bit of revenge on Sunday and if not on the squash court get one back on him on the rugby field.

Agar looks ahead to the weekend game

How important is it to win on Sunday?

We're on our home ground in front of our home fans and we've shown some signs of promise in a couple of games. It's important that, against a team we're battling with at the bottom of the table, we come away with a win.

How important will it be to have Berro and Washy back?

I think it gives us a hand in the middle of the park, direction wise. It unburdens Adam Dykes as the sole director, and at the end if the day they are both quality players.

Cas may be bottom but they have some good players and they're a dangerous side.

I don't read too much into their league position; it's probably more of a danger than playing the teams we've already played. If you don't turn up on the day then they are a side that certainly can put you to the sword.

They have some good attacking players in there; they have some blokes that have been at our club who will be relishing the opportunity to come back and play at the KC. That in itself should keep us on our toes.

At the same time we're not in any luxurious position where we can turn up to any game with our minds not on the job.

You look at their team and obviously Sherwin's been a big influence and if he's back it helps them, McGoldrick's playing well, Dorn is one of the best support players in the country?

Dorn has scored 11 tries in a team that is sitting at the bottom of the table so that speaks for itself. McGoldrick has been a very influential player for Cas, he's shown he has a lovely touch on the ball and is a player that can create both playing short and long. He's struck up a nice combination with Joe Westerman down that side.

That, allied with the possibility of Sherwin returning with his kicking game, is enough to keep our defence on its toes for an afternoon.

What will you expect from your team?

When I took over the job I asked the boys for a response and they have which has pleased me.

I think we have shown a lot of energy and we have shown a steady improvement. What I would like to see on Sunday is for us to take another step forward and improve on what we have already achieved.

What we need to do is just improve in a couple of areas and then I am convinced the results will start to come.

Hull's Super League record against Castleford.

Home: played 9, won 6, drawn 1, lost 2, for 198, against 130
Away: played 10, won 4, drawn 1, lost 5, for 256, against 237
Total: played 19, won 10. drawn 2, lost 7, for 454, against 367

Milestones:

Motu Tony 98 appearances for Hull (73 plus 25 subs.

Lee Radford 96 appearances (88 plus 8 subs, both spells with club) Graeme Horne 98 appearances (24 plus 74 as subs).

Danny Tickle 46 appearances. Tickle reached a career total of 500 goals in club and representative matches with the first of his five goals against Leeds Rhinos last weekend. The back row forward has scored 102 for Halifax Blue Sox, 219 Wigan Warriors, 146 Hull and 37 England A. His 504 goals include four drop goals.

News Source: www.hullfc.com

Advanced Search