Hull show more promise

Hull's new-look side have gained another scalp at the start of the new Super League season thanks to a 14-6 victory against Huddersfield at the KC Stadium.

Fresh from their impressive win at St Helens last weekend, Richard Agar's side continued their early season promise on Friday against last season's Challenge Cup finalists.

The foundations for the Black and Whites' success were laid by their pack, which dominated opponents clearly missing Brett Hodgson - Huddersfield's Man of Steel missing out with a back injury.

Danny Tickle and Craig Hall scored both Hull's tries in the first half, but the player who really caught the eye was Mark O'Meley.

The giant former Australia prop made two 20-minute-long cameos and at times appeared unplayable.

Hull, who lost 24-0 in the same fixture last season, named an unchanged side and carried on where they left off at Knowsley Road with a try on six minutes.

A fierce run down the left from Willie Manu set up the score, with Shaun Berrigan then passing to Tickle who barged over the top of Lee Gilmour.

Hull should have scored further tries but Hall's forward pass ended a flowing move started by Sean Long's break, while Richard Horne was pegged back by Leroy Cudjoe.

Huddersfield's only real chance came after 21 minutes when Jamahl Lolesi beat Tom Briscoe to Kevin Brown's kick but failed to ground the ball.

One of those nights

The feeling that the Giants might be having one of those nights was heightened when Hull scored their second try less than 60 seconds later.

Hall was the scorer this time, flying in by the right corner flag after Long, Epalahame Lauaki and Richard Whiting had linked up in another slick move.

Huddersfield struggled to get a foothold but they still should have halved the deficit just seconds before half-time.

Luke Robinson exploited a rare gap in Hull's defence and raced clear but, rather than passing to the supporting Cudjoe, he opted to hold onto the ball and was wrestled to the floor by Jordan Tansey.

The visitors nevertheless rallied after the break and Scott Grix dragged four Hull defenders over the line with him when he scored in the 45th minute.

With O'Meley off the field, Hull struggled to get out of their own half and needed Tickle to kick a 55th-minute penalty to give themselves some breathing space.

Huddersfield thought they had scored again on the hour when Lolesi crossed in the corner, only for referee Thierry Alibert to bring them back for a forward pass.

David Hodgson was then denied a breakaway try in the 66th minute after it was deemed that he had knocked on when charging down Horne's pass.