Hull 14-16 Catalans: Walsh kicks Dragons to victory

Match Stats

Hull FC tries:  Carlos Tuimavave (37), Liam Watts (61)
Penalties/Conversions: Marc Sneyd (13, 37, 61) 

Catalans tries: Richie Myler (41)
Penalties/Conversions: Luke Walsh  (17, 24, 41, 51, 65, 68) 

Match Report

A perfect kicking display from Luke Walsh helped Catalans Dragons make it two wins out of two at the start of the Betfred Super League. 

The former St Helens scrum-half kicked five penalties and converted a try from his half- back partner Richie Myler to earn his side a 16-14 victory over a flat Hull side.

The Airlie Birds twice held the lead after scoring tries through Carlos Tuimavave and Liam Watts but generally lacked a spark in attack despite the encouragement of a 13,541 crowd at the KCOM Stadium.

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There was little to choose between the side during a stop-start first half dominated by crunching defence, with Hull losing captain Gareth Ellis with a head knock early in the game - but the Dragons were inspired by non-stop efforts of Greg Bird as they bossed the second half.

Marc Sneyd gave his side a 14th-mnute lead with a penalty after former Hull prop Sam Moa was pulled up for interference in the ruck - but Walsh succeeded with two long-range kicks at goal to give the visitors a 4-2 lead.

The Dragons actually took the lead while down to 12 men with loose forward Bird in the sin bin following a team warning from referee Robert Hicks - who awarded 15 penalties in the first half, nine of them against the French club.

The visitors might have scored the first try six minutes before half-time when strong-running centre Krisnan Inu powered his way to the line but Hicks decided the player was held up without feeling the need to resort to the video referee.

French frustration over that decision was made worse two minutes later when Hull second rower Sika Manu produced a delicious offload from the tackle to get centre Tuimavave over for the only try of the first half - and Sneyd's conversion made it 8-4.

It took the visitors just 42 seconds of the second half to regain the lead, however, as Hull were caught cold.

Bird made the initial break and full-back Thomas Bosc continued the move to get Myler scurrying over for a try to which Walsh added the goal to make it 10-8, before adding a third penalty on 50 minutes.

The Catalans, who had forward Jason Baitieri placed on report.after coming into contact with the referee, were the better team throughout the third quarter and almost extended their lead when debutant winger Iain Thornley was pushed into touch just short of the line.

Hull drew level against the run of play, prop Liam Watts stealing the ball one-on-one from Inu just 10 metres from the Catalans line to pocket a try.

Sneyd's third goal helped his side go ahead - but the lead changed hands for a fifth time when Baitieri was twice the subject of illegal tackles and Walsh kicked both penalties to take his total of goals to six from six attempts.

Watts was shown a yellow card for the second foul, a dangerous tackle, which helped Catalans see the game out.

Match Reaction

Catalans Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous: "I'm very pleased but at the same time it's only round two," he said. "Something we learned from last year is to stay humble because we were in the top four at one stage and you saw how we finished.

"There are areas where we need to improve. We created some opportunities and could have scored more tries. Our last plays in the first half weren't good enough.

"But this was definitely a game we could have lost last season. We were patient, showed good defence and came up with the two points which is pleasing.

"The players work hard on and off the field and without a good team culture, you don't come to Hull FC and win, so it's a very good sign."

Frayssinous on Greg Bird and concerns over injuries to Jason Baitieri, Sam Moa, Julian Bousquet and Paul Aiton: "He's (Bird) a great player, a great man. I'm really happy he's on our side. He turns up for his team-mates all the time.

"I'm worried about injuries. We had 14 players for the last 38 minutes. I need to look at the video to make sure Hull have the right tackle technique but there is some similarity with the injuries."

Hull coach Lee Radford: "It was painful to watch tonight. The stop-start type of game was frustrating. The skill set of the group wasn't where it needs to be.

"We didn't take any juice out of them at their end of the field. It was smart by them and it's not the first time they've done that. You can't keep giving the ball away.

"I thought physically we were as good as we've been for a long time but we've got to be better with the ball, we looked as bad as we've had with ball in hand."