Hull can take pride in their effort at Leeds, but need more polish

BLACK AND WHITES WILL RUE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO SEAL VICTORY

- By DAN TOMLINSON

Hull FC were cruelly defeated at Headingley as Ryan Hall’s 79th-minute try snatched Leeds Rhinos an 18-16 victory on Friday night after they trailed 16-4 in the second half.

Here the Mail looks at some talking points.

Hull’s polish lesson

Hull led for most of the game, building a two-score lead after half-time. However, after gifting Leeds four points before the break, they were pegged back again with three tries in the second half - the winner 90 seconds before full-time - earning the Rhinos the win.

The winner came after Leeds overturned a live call of a knock-on with the captain’s challenge. It was tough on Hull, with the Rhinos then rampaging downfield through Ash Handley - always a threat - before shifting the ball to the right edge and scoring through Hall.

It was an unreal passage of play from a Rhinos perspective and a firm example of the progress they have made under coach Brad Arthur. They are tough, resilient, and physical, but they can play as well, and their big players step up. Brodie Croft was at the heart of the second-half comeback, and the plays from Handley and Hall were massive.

For Hull, who more than competed and led for nearly 50 minutes, it's a bitter pill to swallow.

They got themselves ahead with a neat scrum play try from Lewis Martin and added to that as Sam Eseh crashed over. And when Harvey Barron finished strongly in the second half, it looked like another win at Headingley was forming.