Nofoaluma Brace Helps York To Shock Win At Hull FC

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Betfred Super League, MKM Stadium


(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 York Knights 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 famous day for the Knights who are playing in their first Super League season.


Two tries from David Nofoaluma, on his launching, and Ben Jones-Bishop's rating assisted develop a 16-10 lead, before Richardson dropped the additional point.


It showed definitive as Lewis Martin's late try for Hull set up a tense finale, but York stood firm in their last protective set and reach 3rd in the early season standings.


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


But here they showed victory over Hull KR was no fluke and it might prove a season of surprises for the Knights, while the Airlie Birds pondered a second succeeding defeat.


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


A knock-on provided 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 offer the hosts a 10-6 half-time lead.


The weather condition turned nasty in the second half and it was the home side who failed to handle the conditions as Barron knocked on in his own 20, and Richardson provided Nofoaluma a face the left corner to bring York level.


Hull were then minimized to 12 men for Jed Cartwright's take on from an offside position and the visitors took full benefit to put Jones-Bishop into the ideal corner in front of their supporters.


With 14 minutes to play, York took the chance to move more than a score ahead and Richardson slotted a basic drop-goal from 25 lawns out.


It showed the right choice as Martin touched down Cade Cust's grubber in the penultimate minute and Zak Hardaker's objective from the left touchline offered York one last set to safeguard.


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


Hull FC head coach John Cartwright told BBC Radio Humberside:


"They scored an early try however we responded to that pretty well and after that managed the first half, however I thought we should have scored more points.


"The last five minutes of the half we were camped on their line however had a couple of normal sets. We should have come into the sheds 10 points up.


"Second half there were then a lot of errors but they simply 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 started very well however then welcomed Hull back into the video 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 outstanding doing that.


"We believed we 'd make it a two-score video game that developed the scoreboard pressure, they threw everything 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