By IAN JUDSON
HULL FC claimed an unwanted record in their defeat at Bartercard Odsal on Sunday – they have lost to all three newly promoted sides.
While the general consensus of opinion is that Bradford Bulls deserved their victory, it also has to be said that there were mitigating factors for the Airlie Birds, which started with losing an interchange in the first five minutes after Brad Fash ruptured his MCL.
But inevitably, most people are going to talk about the red card for Yusuf Aydin, for which the Turkish international has now been suspended for a total of six matches.
However, having been reduced to 12 men, it has to be said the Black & Whites played their better rugby of this match after he left the field, probably taking his chances of a new contract with him.
For that last 30+ minutes the Airlie Birds were highly competitive, albeit against a side in the lower echelons of the Betfred Super League table. They certainly caused a few heart-stopping moments for the home support and scored two very eye-catching tries just by playing without any structure. Hull were only denied a chance of golden point extra time – and possibly an unlikely victory – by a breath of wind just blowing Zak Hardaker’s conversion attempt from Davy Litten’s try onto the post.
The huge ban for Aydin and the extended time on the sideline for Fash certainly doesn’t help Hull’s cause as they head to Leigh Sports Village on Friday night. But again hope is springing eternal as the uncompromising Herman Ese’Ese and Jed Cartwright inexorably move closer to their returns from long-term injuries.
At the time of writing this, it still remains to be seen if Hull will enter the loan market again to get short-term cover for missing players, particularly with Sam Lisone and John Asiata still some way off a comeback yet, or utilise their impressive youth with players such as back-rower Will Kirby and prop Matty Laidlaw waiting in the wings.
The other good news for Hull was the return to Super League action for winger Harvey Barron, inevitably he wasn’t as sharp as usual at Odsal. But with that game – and a previous reserves outing against Wigan – that is sure to develop sooner, rather than later.
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