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Rugby League: Sneyd steals win for Hull FC after Leeds fight back

Albert Kelly Hull FC
Albert Kelly (with ball) had a hand in all four of Hull FC’s tries as they survived a Leeds fightback to win 19-18 thanks to Marc Sneyd’s late drop-goal.Photograph: Ashley Allen/Getty Images

Hull FC ended their four-year wait for a Super League victory over Leeds Rhinos as an Albert Kelly masterclass laid the platform for a dramatic victory over the reigning champions.

Marc Sneyd’s 76th-minute drop-goal ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides on a night where Leeds rallied from 14-0 down to lead 18-14 at one stage, but Kelly was the undisputed star; the Australian having a hand in all four of the home side’s tries as they moved back into the top four with a victory.

Hull dominated the majority of the first half and, on the balance of play, it was difficult to argue with the eight-point advantage they held at the break. The hosts began much the better of the two sides, and after an early scare for Leeds when a Scott Taylor try was disallowed for obstruction, the deadlock was broken soon after.

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Albert Kelly was at the heart of everything Hull did well in the first half, and it was the home stand-off who provided the pass for Jake Connor to break through superbly and touch down. Marc Sneyd was off-target with the ensuing attempt at goal.

Hull may have perhaps been frustrated they had not pulled further ahead as the half wore on, with the usually reliable Sneyd ineffective against a visibly out-of-sorts Leeds side. The closest the visitors came to scoring was when Brett Ferres broke through from a pass adjudged to be forward by Richie Myler.

Hull eventually made the Rhinos pay for their inadequacies. With six minutes to go until the break, Kelly was again Leeds’s chief tormentor and this time he provided an inch-perfect pass for Bureta Faraimo to reach over and score their second try.

Leeds’s half was perhaps best summed up two minutes from half-time when, with a rare foray into Hull territory, they spurned the opportunity to reduce the deficit when Mikolaj Oledzki cheaply turned possession over to ensure Hull’s lead would remain intact at the break.

Kelly would not relent after the break either – the half-back again linking magnificently with Connor to send the centre over for his second try – and for the first time in the game, Sneyd would convert to open up a commanding 14-point lead.

Tries from Ryan Hall and Joel Moon would haul Leeds back into contention though, before a moment of controversy put the visitors ahead. Matt Parcell appeared to knock-on in the act of scoring two minutes after Moon’s try, but the video referee adjudged that the Hull prop, Josh Bowden, illegally impeded Parcell, leading to the try being awarded and Leeds moving in front for the first time.

Hull, though, were not done and nor was Kelly. This time, the stand-off hoisted a towering kick which eventually fell to Carlos Tuimavave – but again, Sneyd was off-target with the conversion, leaving the scores level at 18-18. It then, somewhat inevitably, became a case of who would hold their nerve long enough to kick the winning drop-goal and Sneyd duly obliged with four minutes remaining.