| Coral Challenge Cup |
|---|
| Hull FC (12) 51 |
| Tries: Connor, Faraimo, Manu, Naulago 2, Kelly, Shaul, Houghton Goals: Sneyd 9 Drop-goal: Sneyd |
| Catalans Dragons (8) 8 |
| Tries: Tierney 2 |
Hull FC ran in eight tries as they thrashed Challenge Cup holders Catalans Dragons to reach the semi-finals.
Jake Connor and Bureta Faraimo’s tries had Hull 12-0 up but two Lewis Tierney scores put Catalans within four points.
But the hosts scored a remarkable 39 unanswered second-half points as they ran riot at the KCOM Stadium.
Tries from Sika Manu, Albert Kelly, Jamie Shaul, Danny Houghton and two from Ratu Naulago saw the five-time cup winners ease into the last four.
Naulago’s first – a sprint from the halfway line – was the highlight for a rampant Hull, while Kelly dropped a shoulder to wrongfoot the Catalans defence for another impressive score.
Victory means Lee Radford’s 2016 and 2017 Challenge Cup winners will take their place in one of the two men’s semi-finals at Bolton Wanderers FC’s University of Bolton Stadium on 27 July.
With French side Catalans a place, and two points, above their opponents in the top four of Super League, a closer tie was anticipated, especially after Hull were decimated by Huddersfield at the Magic Weekend last time out.
The return of full-back Sam Tomkins could not inspire them, while his opposite number Marc Sneyd was successful with all nine of his conversions.
Hull KR host Warrington in the second Challenge Cup quarter-final on Friday.
Hull FC head coach Lee Radford told BBC Radio Humberside:
“I was scratching my head after Saturday wondering what went wrong then five days later they put in a performance like that.
“We’re at the halfway stage of the season and we’re in the Challenge Cup semi-final so it’s a real credit to the coaching staff.
“I’m still blazing about Saturday to be brutally honest. But until I fix it, I don’t think I’ll be satisfied.”
Hull FC: Shaul, Naulago, Connor, Griffin, Faraimo, Kelly, Sneyd, Green, Houghton, Paea, Minichiello, Manu, Westerman.
Interchanges: Bowden, Fash, Hadley, Savelio.
Catalans: Gigot, Yaha, Mead, Wiliame, Tierney, Langi, Tomkins, Bousquet, McIlorum, Moa, Whitley, Garcia, Casty.
Interchanges: Edwards, Da Costa, Baitieri, Kasiano.
Referee: B. Thaler.
