Nofoaluma Brace Helps York To Shock Win At Hull FC
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Betfred Super League, MKM Stadium
Hull FC (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 3 weeks as they won at Hull FC.
Having stunned champions Hull KR in the opening round, York followed up with another popular day for the Knights who are playing in their very first Super League season.
Two attempts from David Nofoaluma, on his launching, and Ben Jones-Bishop's score assisted construct a 16-10 lead, before Richardson dropped the additional point.
It showed decisive as Lewis Martin's late shot for Hull set up a tense finale, but York persevered in their last protective set and reach third in the early season standings.
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After a well-known 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 success over Hull KR was no fluke and it could show a season of surprises for the Knights, while the Airlie Birds pondered a 2nd succeeding defeat.
They scored the opening try as Toa Mata'afa put Nofoaluma over for his very first rating for his brand-new club.
A knock-on offered Hull a prime attacking platform and from the scrum, Davy Litten took Jake Arthur's pass to power over and level.
Connor Bailey then released Harvey Barron and the Hull winger finished well to provide the hosts a 10-6 half-time lead.
The weather condition turned nasty in the 2nd half and it was the home side who stopped working to deal with the conditions as Barron knocked on in his own 20, and Richardson provided Nofoaluma a run into 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 complete advantage 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 simple drop-goal from 25 lawns out.
It showed the correct 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 but we answered that pretty well and then controlled the first half, however I thought we must have scored more points.
"The last 5 minutes of the half we were camped on their line but had a couple of . We ought to have come into the sheds 10 points up.
"Second half there were then a lot of mistakes however they just 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 began effectively but then invited Hull back into the game in that first half and they capitalised on it effectively.
"We then spoke at half-time about not going after the scoreboard and building some composure and I thought we were exceptional doing that.
"We thought we 'd make it a two-score video game that constructed 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