After a close but morale boosting second win of the season, over the Huddersfield Giants, in round three, Hull FC returned home looking for a third, but this time against daunting opposition in the form of the Leigh Leopards, currently sat joint top of the competition with maximum points.

A points win of thirty-three or more for the home side would see them up above their opponents and into third spot, whereas a win of any description would put the Leopards on top of the pile ahead of tomorrows meeting between St Helens and Hull Kingston Rovers.

Hull FC were given a four point start on the coupon by the bookmakers who were expecting a tight game, a continued rebirth for the Airlie Birds, or more of the same for the Leopards.

Hull FC delighted their fans with their opening minutes, and they took the lead on nine minutes with Jed Cartwright taking a Cade Cust pass to go through a big gap on the broken Leigh defence for the opening score of the night.  Aidan Sezer’s conversion hit he upright, but it was a great start for the Black & Whites.

On thirteen the visitors were back on level terms when Badrock broke the line and found Tesi Niu twenty out, the big centre swatting away the Hull defenders to ground in the corner. O’Brien hit the post with his conversion attempt, the sides all square.

A high tackle from Sezer under the sticks gifted O’Brien a simple penalty goal, Sezer being yellow carded for the high attack. Leigh in front for the first time.

On twenty-three Logan Moy mishandled a high kick to the in-goal area, knocking the ball on and into the hands of team-mate Lewis Martin in an offside position. Back-to-back-to-back penalties, the third a high tackle from Jordan Rapana saw the Hull centre join Sezer in the sinbin. Hull down to eleven men. Two tackles later Umyla Hanley managed to ground the ball on the line and the lead was extended for the visitors. Hull indiscipline costing them dear.

Hull got some relief on the half hour when they were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks, Jordan Lane kicking the two pointer to reduce the arrears to six points as they returned to twelve men.

It had been an incident filled opening forty, Hull taking some consolation for trailing at the interval by knowing that they survived periods of the half with players in the bin.

After a great start to the second half Hull were back in touching distance on fifty-one with Harvey Barron collecting a Briscoe tap back, breaking and tackle and shuffling his way over the line on his belly to ground. Sezer was on target with the conversion to level the scores at 12-12, game on.

Within three minutes Leigh were back in the lead, David Armstrong stepping out of a tackle and grounding in the left corner with O’Brien adding the conversion to put his side six points clear.

Just under the hour the sides were again locked up thanks to a great weaving run from the big man Herman Ese’ese as he went fifteen metres to score by the right upright. Sezer was on target again for 18-18. It was a humdinger of a game, not technically brilliant, but a joy to watch for the neutral.

On sixty-six Armstrong got his second for Leigh as he brushed off two tackles from Hull defenders to again score on the left corner. Lachlan Lam pushed his kick across the front of the sticks, Hull needing a converted try in the closing twelve minutes to take the win.

On seventy-one Jordan Rapana bounced the ball over the line under a ferocious tackle, a try saver for Leigh.

Ninety seconds from full time a full-length dive from Martin, at the end of a cross-field passing move, saw the Hull winger ground a split second before going into touch to level the scores. The pressure was massive for Sezer to kick for the win, but he hit the post, and the game headed for golden point.

Leigh had first use of the ball but were too far out for a goal attempt, but neither could Hull with their first set. The action took place in the middle of the field and the first period ended without result.

Tom Briscoe caught the kick-off with a foot in touch and despite an inconclusive captain’s challenge Leigh got the ball back inside the Hull half. Two tackles in Lam tried a drop goal from thirty metres which was charged down, and Leigh were forced back into their own half. On seven minutes the ball was again flung back to Lam who scuffed his kick along the ground.

The referee penalised Hull for offside, forty-five from their own line, but Leigh elected to run the ball rather than kick for goal. Two drives from Leigh and the ball was back to Lam but again his kick was charged down. Some last gasp frantic play went unrewarded and the final hooter sounded a draw.

A fair outcome to an exhilarating game.

Another great Super League game, Hull proving that they are a changed side from the one who had such a poor 2024 season. It wasn’t a classic game in terms of skill, but there was plenty of excitement and a fair amount of controversy to stimulate the fans. Honours even, Legh move to top, Hull FC to fourth.

Hull FC: Moy, Barron (T), Briscoe, Rapana (SB on 23), Martin (T), Cust, Sezer (G 2/4, SB on 21), Ese’ese (T), Bourouh, Aydin, Cartwright (T), Lane (G 1/1), Asiata.  Subs: Ashworth, Fash, Hutchinson, Knight. 18^th Man: Salabio.

Leigh Leopards: Armstrong (2T), Brand, Niu (T), Hanley (T), Hodgson, O’Brien (G 3/4), Lam (G 0/1), Trout, Ipape, Hughes, Badrock, O’Neill, Liu. Subs: Brogan, Tuitavake, Davis, Dwyer. 18^th Man: Towse.

Half-Time: 6-12.

Full-Time: 22-22. Golden Point: 22-22.  

Score Progression: 4-0, 4-4, (SB), 4-6, (SB), 4-10, 4-12, 6-12 : HT: 10-12, 12-12, 12-16, 12-18, 16-18, 18-18, 18-22, 22-22 :FT: 22-22:GP.

Lead Exchanges: Hull FC – Square – Leigh – Square – Leigh – Square – Leigh - Square.

Referee: Tom Grant.