Nofoaluma Brace Helps York To Shock Win At Hull FC

145 Comments


Betfred Super League, MKM Stadium


Hull FC (10) 16


Tries: Litten, Barron, Martin Goals: Hardaker 2


York Knights (6) 17


Tries: Nofoaluma 2, Jones-Bishop Goals: Richardson 2 Drop-goal: Richardson


Danny Richardson's drop-goal made a 2nd shock win in three weeks as they won at Hull FC.


Having shocked champions Hull KR in the opening round, York followed up with another well-known day for the Knights who are playing in their first Super League season.


Two tries from David Nofoaluma, on his debut, and Ben Jones-Bishop's score helped build a 16-10 lead, before Richardson dropped the additional point.


It showed decisive as Lewis Martin's late try for Hull set up a tense ending, but York stood firm in their final defensive set and climb to third in the early season standings.


Castleford beat Giants for first Super League win


Arthur desires Leeds players to delight in 'crazy' Vegas


27 February


After a well-known win in their debut Super League fixture, York were revived down to earth with a 46-14 drubbing by Leeds last weekend.


But here they proved success over Hull KR was no fluke and it could show a season of surprises for the Knights, while the Airlie Birds considered a second successive defeat.


They scored the opening try as Toa Mata'afa put Nofoaluma over for his very first rating for his brand-new club.


A knock-on offered Hull a prime assaulting platform and from the scrum, Davy Litten took Jake Arthur's pass to power over and level.


Connor Bailey then freed Harvey Barron and the Hull winger completed well to provide the hosts a 10-6 half-time lead.


The weather condition turned foul in the second half and it was the home side who stopped working to handle the conditions as Barron knocked on in his own 20, and Richardson gave Nofoaluma an encounter the left corner to bring York level.


Hull were then lowered to 12 guys for Jed Cartwright's deal with from an offside position and the visitors took full advantage to put Jones-Bishop into the ideal corner in front of their fans.


With 14 minutes to play, York took the possibility to move more than a rating ahead and Richardson slotted an easy drop-goal from 25 backyards out.


It showed the appropriate decision as Martin touched down Cade Cust's grubber in the penultimate minute and Zak Hardaker's goal from the left touchline offered York one final set to protect.


'They simply played more constant footie' - Hull FC response


Hull FC head coach John Cartwright informed BBC Radio Humberside:


"They scored an early try but we answered that pretty well and then controlled the first half, however I thought we should have scored more points.


"The last 5 minutes of the half we were camped on their line but had a couple of normal sets. We ought to have entered into the sheds 10 points up.


"Second half there were then a lot of errors however they just played more constant footie."


'It was a genuine test of character' - York response


York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:


"I believed we began extremely well but then invited Hull back into the game because very first half and they capitalised on it effectively.


"We then spoke at half-time about not going after the scoreboard and constructing some composure and I thought we were exceptional doing that.


"We believed we 'd make it a two-score video game that developed the scoreboard pressure, they tossed whatever at us and it was a real test of character."


Hull FC: Litten, Barron, Hardaker, Romano, Martin, Arthur, Sezer, Bourouh, Hill, Bailey, Cartwright, Aydin


Replacements: Asiata, Cust, Fash, Lisone


Sin-bin: Cartwright


York Knights: Mata'afa, Jones-Bishop, Wood, Williams, Nofoaluma, Richardson, Harris, Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Griffin, Field, Thompson


Replacements: Balmforth, Va'a, Sangare, Vuniyayawa


Referee: James Vella