Dominant FC regain top spot in style
Hull's promising start to the First Utility Super League season continued with victory over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.
There were few positives for the Catalans as Hull maintained their 100% win record after their win over Salford Red Devils last Friday. Fetuli Talanoa put the Catalans Dragons to the sword as he scored two tries and created another as Hull FC ran out 38-10 winners in Perpignan.
The visitors' first league win in France since 2010 moved them back to the top of the table with a superb brand of flowing rugby that was a joy to watch for the 10,000-plus crowd. Both sides traded early tries as Talanoa opened the scoring for Hull before Pat Richards added the first of his two scores for the home side.
Sika Manu edged Hull FC further in front with a try created by Mark Minichiello, Marc Sneyd added the conversion. Richards again levelled on 22 minutes, after two superb wide passes by Todd Carney and Richie Myler created space for the former Wigan winger to score in the corner. Richards converted from the touchline to make it 10-10.
That was as good as it got for the home side as Josh Bowden powered over from 10 metres out on a short-side play and Jack Logan pounced on an error by Olivier Elima to score before the interval. Marc Sneyd converted both efforts to give Hull a 22-10 lead. It was one-way traffic after half-time with the visitors running in a further three tries and having two ruled out by the video referee - all despite having former Dragon Leon Pryce sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
Sneyd extended Hull's lead with a penalty goal while Pryce was in the sin-bin. Hull skipper Gareth Ellis then touched down short of the hour, latching onto Sneyd's grubber kick to the in-goal area after Mark Minichiello was held up short of the line.
Talanoa added his second try of the game just after the hour mark - the Hull winger was having a field day against his opposite number, Fouad Yaha - Pryce and Sneyd combining to get the ball to the left edge before Carlos Tuimavave sent in Talanoa. Sneyd missed the conversion.
Talanoa then set up the try of the game, scooting away from the acting half 10 metres from his own line before sending Jamie Shaul over to score. Sneyd this time converted and the score moved to 38-10.
In the closing minutes, it could have been worse for Catalans - the visitors had two tries ruled out for Talanoa just being edged into touch.
