Super League: Broncos thrashed as Hull FC keep tabs on play-offs
Callum Lancaster scored two tries as Hull FC resigned London Broncos to a fifteenth successive Super League defeat.
By Jonathan Doidge
Last Updated: 31/05/14 5:28pm
The 17-year-old made his debut for the Airlie Birds as a late replacement in last week's defeat to Leeds, but created such an impression that coach Lee Radford decided to stick with him for the trip to The Hive. The winger rewarded him with by playing a significant role in the team's first win in five matches, while Joe Westerman was another who doubled up on the scoresheet.
The two points means that Hull still have a realistic chance of making the play-offs, although they currently sit outside the top eight. Meanwhile London will have to wait and see whether Scott Moore, who was sent off just before half-time for a high tackle on Lancaster, will face a ban when the disciplinary committee meet on Tuesday.
The Broncos had got off to a fantastic start when James Greenwood charged down a Hull FC to regather and score under the posts, with Josh Drinkwater converting.
Denny Solomona could have helped to double that lead, but had a try ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up, before Mason Caton-Brown did superbly to deny the Airlie Birds a score in the corner.
It didn't deter the East Yorkshire side for long, however. From a scrum, Nesi Mataitonga fumbled the ball and Gareth Ellis pounced to touch down under the posts, Jacob Miller adding the extras.
Denied
Solomona was again denied by the referee when he did superbly to get across the line at the other end moments later, but this time his try was chalked off for a forward pass.
The visitors hit the front when Kirk Yeaman's break allowed youngster Lancaster the chance to finish his first try in senior colours and he duly obliged. Miller's conversion made it 6-12 and helped to settle the former-Grand Finalists.
Back-to-back penalties gave Hull FC further momentum and it wasn't long before Joe Westerman timed his run to perfection to take the ball and power over by the posts, Miller again converting.
By half-time they had extended that lead to 6-22, with full back Jamie Shaul adding his name to the scoresheet. Things got worse for London when hooker Moore was sent off for that high tackle, only the second red card of the Super League season.
The home side hit back, however, when Caton-Brown was on hand to take Griffin's offload and score, with Drinkwater adding the extra two points. But the extra effort of covering for Moore took its toll on the Broncos and the visitors finished much the stronger.
Livewire Danny Houghton supported a Liam Watts break to score under the posts. Jordan Rankin converted that plus second tries for Westerman and Lancaster, and another for Talanoa, failing only to add the goal to his own try three minutes from time.