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Fri February 6 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Leeds Rhinos 28 d. Celtic Crusaders 6 at
Headingley, Leeds, UKCrowd: 14,827
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Bradford Bulls 12 l. Huddersfield Giants 16 at
Odsal Stadium, Bradford, Yorkshire, UKCrowd: 10,186
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Hull FC 28 d. Les Catalans Dragons 12 at
Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, UKCrowd: 12,482
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: St Helens 19 l. Hull KR 20 at
Knowsley Road, St Helens, UKCrowd: 11,830
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 48 d. Warrington Wolves 22 at
Belle Vue Stadium, Wakefield, Yorkshire (UK)Crowd: 5,169
Sat February 28 2009, 5:30PM GMTSat: Harlequins 18 l. Wigan Warriors 24 at
The Stoop, Twickenham, UKCrowd: 3,883
Sat February 28 2009, 6:00PM GMTSat: Castleford Tigers 52 d. Salford City Reds 16 at
The Jungle, Wheldon Road, Castleford (UK)Crowd: 7,052
Sat February 28, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.ukHull FC produced a dominant display to maintain their 100% start to the new engage Super League season at the expense of Catalans Dragons last night.
The hosts gradually increased the pressure after a cagey opening at the KC Stadium and were well rewarded with tries for Shaun Berrigan, Craig Hall, Tom Briscoe and Richard Horne.
Danny Tickle also weighed in with six goals as Hull claimed a deserved victory against a side that struggled to create attacking momentum.
Olivier Elima gave the Dragons brief hope with a try early in the second half but Hull's lead was not threatened and Adam Mogg's late effort was mere consolation.
Neither side were prepared to give an inch early on and the opening exchanges were fought out almost exclusively in the middle third of the field.
It was not until the 14th minute Hull seriously pushed into Catalans territory and, after Kirk Yeaman was held down in front of the posts, Tickle accepted two points.
Hull made better use of their possession thereafter and Yeaman threatened to break from deep for a scintillating try until being caught by a desperate Cyril Stacul ankle-tap.
The hosts managed to keep that attack going but Hall, full-back in the absence of Todd Byrne, kicked too strongly for Mark Calderwood.
Hull maintained the momentum and were rewarded with the opening try after 25 minutes following a Horne break.
Berrigan took up the attack and, while Catalans looked to have his kick covered, they could do little as it ricocheted off a post and rebounded kindly for the influential hooker to score.
Hall could have added a second try moments later but was denied by a superb tackle on the line by opposite number Clint Greenshields.
He could not be kept out for long, however, as he ran onto a Chris Thorman kick two minutes before the interval and just managed to press the ball down.
Trailing 14-0, Catalans started the second half positively and Stacul looked certain to score in the corner after a fine burst by Greenshields but Briscoe somehow robbed possession as he dived in.
Hull players ran from across the field to congratulate Briscoe but they were caught moments later as Elima crashed over from close range.
Thomas Bosc converted to give the Dragons maximum reward for their first sustained attack of the game but they were soon on the back foot again as Hull hit back.
The French side held out as Hull declined two kickable penalties but they were not opportunities the hosts lived to regret.
Calderwood looked set to stretch Hull's lead out wide until cutting inside but the ball was quickly spread to the opposite wing and Briscoe went over.
Tickle converted from the touchline to put Hull in firm command with a quarter of the game remaining.
Horne wrapped up the Hull scoring five minutes from time as he dived on a short Danny Houghton kick to claim his 100th try for the club.
Tickle maintained his perfect goalkicking record with the conversion and Mogg's last-gasp effort could not detract from a satisfactory night for Richard Agar's men.
Thu February 26, 2009
Source: www.hullfc.comHull FC Coach Richard Agar revealed his side would go into their clash with Catalans Dragons at the KC Stadium tomorrow (8pm) in a confident mood after opening their Super League campaign with two straight wins.
However, Agar is expecting a battle royal against the French, especially after their tremendous comeback and victory over Warrington Wolves last weekend.
Despite the loss of some key players such as new signing Jason Ryles, Dane Carlew, Seb Raguin and the suspension of Jamel Fakir, Catalans still have a lot of class as Agar was quick to point out when he said: "Even though they have a few injuries and a suspension they still have a good side and one, which commands total respect.
"They have a quartet of players, Mogg, McGuire, Greenshields and Bosc who can all put on great plays.
"Greenshields is a real threat coming from deep. He drifts in and out and he has caused us problems before.
"Looking at their overseas contingent I believe it is one of the strongest in the competition and they have a massive bearing on the side.
"They will fancy their chances this season and why not because they have a well balanced side and a physically strong one.
"I am sure after last week they will also come into this game confident but then so do we after our two opening wins against Wigan and Celtic.
"We know we can improve but I think we have shown a new inner strength, which we didn't have last season.
"In both our previous games we have come from behind. We haven't let our heads drop as we did sometimes last year."
Last weeks victory at Celtic was a perfect example because Hull found themselves 10-0 down early and went 15 minutes before they had possession inside the Celtic half.
Yet despite that start they came back to win 28-20 and Agar said: "Last week Celtic got off to a good start and we ourselves 10-0 down and we didn't have the ball in their half for 15 minutes. We didn't drop our heads, we picked ourselves up and came back to lead 18-10 at half time.
"That showed a lot character and belief because it would have been easy to have made excuses like the sin binning of Mark Calderwood and the long trip to south Wales plus a long day before the game.
"These are all things we had to negotiate, which we did."
Looking ahead to the Catalans, he added: "You have got to play smart against them. If you play up and down there is a chance they will dominate you. You have got to come up with the yards.
"We also need to work ourselves into good positions and we have to make sure we execute our opportunities better than we have at times."
SUPER LEAGUE RECORD:
Home: played 3, won 1, drawn 1, lost 1, for 54, against 52
Away: played 4, won 3, drawn 1, lost 0, for 120, against 90
Total: played 7, won 4, drawn 2, lost 1, for 174, against 142
SQUAD:
Hull FC: Craig Hall, Mark Calderwood, Graeme Horne, Kirk Yeaman, Tom Briscoe, Richard Horne, Chris Thorman, Ewan Dowes, Shaun Berrigan, Peter Cusack, Mike Burnett, Danny Tickle, Lee Radford, Danny Houghton, Jamie Thackray, Willie Manu, Tommy Lee, Dominic Maloney, Paul King
Milestones:
Richard Horne needs one try for his 100th with hometown club Hull FC.
Round 3
Hull FC 28 d. Les Catalans Dragons 12
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