Hull FC 36-12 Castleford: Sika Manu and Bureta Faraimo ensure Super League victory
Last Updated: 05/05/18 10:02pm
Two tries each from Sika Manu and Bureta Faraimo helped Hull climb to fourth in Super League after beating Castleford 36-12 at the KCOM Stadium.
Manu, who had not managed a try all season, scored two of Hull's four first half tries as they established a 20-6 lead at the break.
However, the win came at a cost with influential playmaker Marc Sneyd helped off the pitch at the start of the second half with a leg injury.
Castleford meanwhile, were without their injured playmaker Luke Gale and it showed.
After a high-tempo start Hull took the lead with a well-crafted try. Jake Connor's perfectly weighted drop-off pass allowed Manu to burst through and score Hull's 50th try of the season which was converted by Sneyd to give the Black and Whites a 6-0 lead after 14 minutes.
The home side's lead lasted only five minutes. Michael Shenton cleverly kept play alive by palming a high kick backwards for Paul McShane to score a try his support play deserved. Jamie Ellis' conversion levelled the scores at 6-6.
Sneyd restored his side's advantage with a wonderful dummy that created the space to run through to score. His conversion, however, was off target but Hull led 10-6.
Following Alex Foster's interference on Carlos Tuimavave trying to play the ball quickly, Manu was in the right place at the right time as Sneyd's kick dropped into his hands after the Tigers made a mess of dealing with it. Sneyd made it 16-6 with his second conversion of the game.
Hull's third try in 12 minutes came from another Sneyd kick. Connor flicked the ball backwards where Faraimo gathered and powered his way over the line for his fifth try of the season.
Sneyd's missed conversion left Castleford trailing 20-6 with the interval approaching. The visitors could have been 21-6 behind had Sneyd not missed a drop goal on the stroke of half-time.
The second half did not start too well for either side. Ellis' restart went straight out of playing giving Hull a penalty on the halfway line. Towards the end of their first set of the second half, Sneyd was helped from the pitch after being tackled going for the line.
With their goalkicker now off the field, Connor extended Hull's lead to 22-6 with a 44th minute penalty after Joe Wardle stopped Connor from playing the ball quickly.
Castleford needed to score next to stay in the game and they did through Calum Turner's try on his Tigers debut after Jamie Shaul dropped a high kick 10 metres from his own line. Ellis converted to leave the visitors trailing 22-12.
Hull's defence stepped up eight minutes later when McShane looked to have found a gap in the left hand corner, but Josh Griffin pulled off a superb try-saving tackle bundling the half-back into touch.
Turner was denied a second try for Castleford after the touch judge ruled he had stepped into touch before grounding the ball.
Hull sealed victory in the 65th minute when Griffin's offload allowed Faraimo to score.
A late Connor penalty and a Griffin try, converted effortlessly from the touchline by Connor, made the score at the final hooter 36-12.