Tickle topples Crusaders
Danny Tickle slotted a last-gasp penalty to secure Hull a dramatic and controversial 18-16 win over Crusaders at the KC Stadium.
Last Updated: 13/08/10 10:44pm
Danny Tickle slotted a last-gasp penalty to secure Hull a dramatic and controversial 18-16 win over Crusaders at the KC Stadium.
The hosts snatched victory despite being reduced to 12 men after referee James Child awarded a penalty for a foul on Reece Lyne that allowed Tickle to kick the match-winning goal from the touchline.
That decision, and Child's overall performance during which he blew for no fewer than 21 penalties, left Brian Noble livid with the Crusaders coach attempting to try and confront the official on the touchline.
Child had earlier dismissed Hull's Jordan Tansey for a late tackle on Clinton Schifcofske in the 75th minute which allowed the visitors to draw level at 16-16, but in the end it was Crusaders who were left frustrated although they remain in the play-off spots despite their defeat.
A torrential downpour robbed the game of any early momentum and Hull were dealt an early blow when centre Jordan Turner was forced off with an arm injury prompting a reshuffle that saw Epalahame Lauaki employed as an emergency centre.
Things then got worse for the Airlie Birds as Crusaders hit the front on 15 minutes, Luke Dyer racing on to scrum-half Jarrod Sammut's clever kick in behind Lyne.
Schifcofske landed the conversion from the touchline and then added a penalty eight minutes later, before Hull finally got themselves going with a 27th-minute try from Lyne.
The teenager, making his home debut and just his third career start, atoned for his earlier error as he finished well following Kirk Yeaman's neat offload.
Three quick penalties
Tickle added the conversion and then gave Hull a four-point lead at the interval, notching three penalties in quick succession as Crusaders were repeatedly pulled up by referee Child.
The stop-start nature of the contest continued after the break, with Schifcofske splitting the posts from close range after another penalty was awarded, before Tickle added a further two penalties for Hull to stretch the lead to 16-10.
The closest either side came to scoring a try was when Yeaman burst through the Crusaders line only to be hauled down after ignoring the supporting Willie Manu.
But it was the visitors who did finally breach the try-line after Tansey saw red for an attempted spear tackle on the breaking Schifcofske.
Almost immediately former Hull man Peter Lupton burst on to Sammut's pass to touch down and Schifcofske converted to level the game.
But there was more drama to come as Child awarded a penalty after Lyne was blocked off as he chased a kick and Tickle held his nerve to win it for Hull, much to Noble's chagrin.