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 shocked champs Hull KR in the opening round, York followed up with another well-known day for the Knights who are playing in their first Super League season.
Two tries from David Nofoaluma, on his debut, and Ben Jones-Bishop's score helped develop a 16-10 lead, before Richardson dropped the additional point.
It proved definitive as Lewis Martin's late shot for Hull set up a tense ending, but York persevered in their final defensive set and climb to third in the early season standings.
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After a famous 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 victory over Hull KR was no fluke and it could show a season of surprises for the Knights, while the Airlie Birds considered a 2nd successive defeat.
They scored the opening shot as Toa Mata'afa put Nofoaluma over for his very first score for his brand-new club.
A knock-on offered Hull a prime assaulting platform and from the scrum, Davy Litten took Jake Arthur's pass to power over and level.
Connor Bailey then freed Harvey Barron and the Hull winger ended up well to offer 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 males for Jed Cartwright's take on from an offside position and the visitors took full advantage to put Jones-Bishop into the right corner in front of their fans.
With 14 minutes to play, York took the possibility to move more than a rating ahead and Richardson slotted a simple drop-goal from 25 lawns out.
It showed the appropriate decision as Martin touched down Cade Cust's grubber in the penultimate minute and Zak Hardaker's goal from the left touchline gave York one final set to defend.
'They simply played more consistent footie' - Hull FC response
Hull FC head coach John Cartwright told BBC Radio Humberside:
"They scored an early shot however we responded to that quite well and then managed the first half, however I believed we ought to have scored more points.
"The last 5 minutes of the half we were camped on their line however had a couple of ordinary sets. We should have entered into the sheds 10 points up.
"Second half there were then a lot of errors but they simply played more consistent footie."
'It was a genuine test of character' - York reaction
York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told York:
"I thought we started really well but then welcomed Hull back into the video game because first half and they capitalised on it effectively.
"We then spoke at half-time about not chasing the scoreboard and constructing some composure and I believed we were outstanding doing that.
"We believed we 'd make it a two-score video game that developed the scoreboard pressure, they tossed whatever 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