Hull 22-26 Leigh: Report and reaction as Centurions end losing streak

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Match stats: Hull FC 22-26 Leigh

Hull FC tries:  Shaul (2), Tuimavave, Kelly
Goals: Sneyd (3) 

Leigh tries:  Dawson (2), Vea (2), Reynolds
Goals: Reynolds (3) 

Match report 

Leigh ended their eight-game losing streak in Super League and added to Hull's woes with a 26-22 win at the KCOM Stadium.

It had been 12 years since Leigh's last visit to the KCOM for a Super League fixture which ended 76-20 to the Black and Whites.

But the Centurions, despite their recent poor form, were in no mood for a repeat of that scoreline and added to the misery caused by Hull's Magic Weekend whitewash at the hands of St Helens.

Leigh enjoyed the better of the opening stages and they took the lead in the eighth minute.

An error on the first tackle on Hull's 20-metre line gave Leigh a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. On the final play, swift hands from Matty Fleming gave winger Matty Dawson the time and space to score in the right-hand corner. Ben Reynolds' touchline conversion fell short of the posts but the visitors led 4-0.

It took Hull 20 minutes to record their first points and it was straight from the training ground.

From a scrum 10 metres from Leigh's line, play switched to the left where the home side had worked an overlap allowing Jamie Shaul the option to pass outside or go through the gap to score himself. He chose wisely but Marc Sneyd's missed conversion meant the score was tied at 4-4.

Moments after the crowd inside the KCOM Stadium had finished their 22nd-minute applause for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, Dawson's second try gave Leigh the lead again.

The Centurions were targeting Hull's left-hand side with inexperienced youngster Nick Rawsthorne playing on the wing with Dawson going past him for the second time in the game. Reynolds' missed the conversion but Leigh led 8-4.

Steve Michaels thought he had restored parity nine minutes before the interval, but his try was chalked off because of a knock-on that led to the ball arriving at his feet over the try line.

Worse was to follow for Lee Radford's side who fell 14-4 behind after Atelea Vea scored Leigh's third try under the posts grounding a cleverly disguised grubber kick from Josh Drinkwater. Reynolds converted at the third attempt.

But Hull's response was instant. Carlos Tuimavave strolled through, unmarked, amidst confusion in the Centurions defence. Sneyd's successful conversion was the last kick of the first half and saw Leigh take a 14-10 lead into the interval.

Leigh were quickest out of the traps after the resumption, Reynolds adding to their score just six minutes after the interval. Drinkwater was again the provider with another deft kick under the posts for Reynolds to gather and score. Reynolds added the extras to extend Leigh's advantage to 20-10.

Hull were not going to surrender without a fight and after a 40-metre break from Albert Kelly, Shaul went over for his second of the game. Sneyd's conversion closed the deficit to 20-16 with half an hour to play.

Shaul undid his good work by failing to gather a high kick which bounced off him into the hands of Vea for his second of the evening close to the left hand touchline. Despite the difficulty of the kick, Reynolds converted to put the Centurions ahead 26-16.

Vea's error bringing the ball out close to his own 20-metre line presented Hull with a chance to score but a forward pass denied Jansin Turgut a try.

Josh Griffin went close to scoring after another Kelly break but was held up over the line. But Kelly's try and Sneyd's conversion with just over four minutes remaining gave Hull hope, trailing 26-22.

But Leigh managed to hold on for their fourth win of the season and send Hull to back-to-back defeats.

Match Reaction

Leigh head coach Neil Jukes: "We were never coming here to make up the numbers," Jukes said. "We showed enough spirit over the last eight weeks.

"The scores we've had, apart form Castleford we've been competitive.

"We've worked tirelessly and stayed together and we will have a few more bumps along the way.

"The tackle on Kelly late on and the follow up play to hold Griffin up epitomised our game.

"We came up with smart plays at the right time, kicks through the line and when we got on top in the ruck helped us slow things down and get the right numbers in the right areas.

"We got a couple of 50/50 calls which we haven't had in recent games.

"We've worked on our kicking game and we caused a bit of damage at a tough place to come and I'm really proud to get our first away win of the season."

Hull coach Lee Radford: "We started the game at Leigh Centurions' tempo and we finished it at Hull FC's tempo.

"We can't be stop-start against Catalans and I want to start Monday's game with real intent.

"Confidence is a funny thing and you forget how to catch a pass like we were three weeks ago.

"We have to play at a tempo to allow us to get confidence back. It was a really slow ruck all game but we need to adjust to that.

"We need to get as ready as we can for Monday. There will be some busted boys.

"Saturday's defeat had a knock on effect on players' mindset but that will come as soon as we start playing at the tempo we want to play at."