Last year's losing grand finalists Hull were forced to open the new season with a draw, after a dour contest with Catalans Dragons at the KC Stadium.

The Black and Whites had trailed 6-0 at 10-2 at one point, so coach Peter Sharp may feel some relief at escaping with a point although in truth this was a game he knows his side should have won if they are to go one better this season.

To their credit, Mick Potter's Catalans side were outstanding, especially in defence and offered enough to suggest that they will not be finishing at the foot of the table this time around.

Their point is all the more surprising considering the absence of their talisman Stacey Jones through injury.

Having spent the off-season being showered in praise for their exploits last season, Sharp knows that his side must move on from that, especially with tough trips to Leeds and Warrington awaiting them.

Unfortunately for Sharp, it appears that his side struggle to perform without Paul Cooke. The stand-off missed out with a knee injury and without his invention, especially down the left-hand side, Hull struggled to break down their dogged visitors.

There was untold disappointment in Perpignan at the way the Dragons performed last season, although the performances here of new signings Adam Mogg, Casey Maguire and in particular Aaron Gorrell, suggested that they have added a new sophistication to their attack that should stand them in better stead this time around.

It was the ex-Canberra centre Mogg who posted the only try of the first period, collecting Maguire's ball to sidestep Kirk Yeaman and cross, with Gorrell adding the conversion.

Hull huffed and puffed, and almost drew level through both Yeaman and Shaun Briscoe, with neither being unable to maintain control of the ball close to the line.

The rest of the half was somewhat dour, with several penalties and handling errors from both sides eating up the clock. Richard Horne and Thomas Lee tried in vain to replicate Cooke's creative abilities, but Catalans held firm and deserved their lead.

Hooker Wayne Godwin - sharing position with Richard Swain - was one highlight for the home side, offering movement and creativity from dummy-half, although rarely was anyone able to capitalise on his good work.

Danny Tickle's 48th-minute penalty allowed Hull to make their first impression on the scoreboard, an indirect compliment to Catalans performance which improved moments later, when Lionel Teixido and Vincent Duport combined to take advantage of Sid Domic's absence in Hull's defensive line and create an easy try for the latter.

Duport's interception then foiled a walk-in for Matt Sing as Hull fought back, but Sing was soon posting his first Super League try after he collected Shayne McMenemy's cut-out pass to cross the line. Tickle's second goal reduced the deficit to two points.

Duport continued to cause Hull problems and ran Domic ragged at times, although the sin-binning of Alex Chan followed by Tickle's subsequent goal levelled the scores.

In a moment of confusion, Hull's conditioner Billy Mallinson was shown a red card by referee Ben Thaler for entering the field without permission.

Some outstanding Hull defence then forced the Dragons to drop-out with seven minutes remaining as they looked to turn the screw, but they were unable to do so, with Tickle's late penalty miss only adding to their frustrations.