Super League Magic Weekend Round 22: London Broncos vs Hull FC Match Report

The London Broncos record a historic Magic Weekend win with a 29-4 defeat over bottom of the table rivals, Hull FC. Two Broncos players in particular, Oli Leyland & Josh Rourke were the heroes in what could well be a shift in momentum for the Broncos heading into the final 5 weeks of the season as they continue their fight to get themselves off the bottom of the table.

The London Broncos’ return to Magic Weekend began at 2:30pm prompt with Hull FC kicking to London from right to left.

London began their huge season defining fixture in one of the worst possible ways. From Kick Off, Leyland attempted to touch the ball with his foot rather than catch with his hands, but the touch was too heavy, and Hull FC recovered 20m away from the Broncos try line. Hull FC went through a couple of phases and had the ball over the try line, but the Video Referee had a check after Liam Rush made his call of no try on the field. The video referee found a knock on by FC in the build-up to the try and London managed to escape their mistake to begin the game.

London’s early luck then continued with a penalty for a high shot on Josh Rourke in the third minute and then received another penalty for a late tackle by Sao on Marcus Stock 20m away from the Hull FC try line in the fifth minute. London didn’t fail to capitalize on this chance as Rourke saw a space, faked the pass to Kershaw and went over to score London’s first try of the game in the sixth minute. Leyland converts from a relatively easy angle.

Once more, off Kick Off in the seventh minute, London made yet another mistake with Miloudi spilling the ball which went backwards over the try line and then he managed to recover but got tackled over the dead ball line, gifting another golden opportunity to Hull FC with a goal line dropout.

On this chance, FC made the most of the field position which they had been given and a good chip through on the fifth was collected by Martin who scored in the corner for Hull FC. Despite the try being scored, Charles couldn’t convert which gave London a slim 6-4 lead heading into the end of the first 10 minutes.

Between the 10^th-15^th minute, there was some good, competitive play between the two sides but a penalty for London for offside in the fifteenth minute gave the Broncos some more good field position. Unfortunately, on this occasion, London knocked the ball on after some pinball improvised play by Kershaw and FC were given the scrum 5m away from their own try line.

Heading into the 25^th minute, Campagnolo put a second try onto the scoreboard for the Broncos after some excellent improvised play once more by Rourke & Miloudi. Around 15m out on the fifth, Campagnolo opted to go for the high kick which was expertly caught by Rourke in traffic. Rourke then produces a sensational behind the back offload to Miloudi who produces an offload himself to Campagnolo who is unmarked on the try line to run in to score his first try of the season. Leyland, once more, converts. Some London magic on Magic Weekend.

After the joy of scoring the try, Campagnolo’s emotions quickly went into panic mode in the 27^th minute as he kicked the ball out on the full, gifting Hull FC an opportunity to respond in the Broncos half. FC fail to make anything of the opportunity but once again the Broncos continue to give FC chances to score, this time courtesy of Rourke’s mistake in playing the ball directly in front of the Broncos try line and then a high tackle by Butler gave Hull six more chances to score only a few meters out. However, as was the theme of this matchup, Hull just couldn’t finish their chances and London managed to get themselves out of danger courtesy of a penalty in the 38^th minute due to an offside from the London scrum and this saw London tide over any remaining threat until the Half Time whistle.

HALF TIME- LONDON BRONCOS 12-4 Hull FC

London began the second half with Oli Leyland kicking to Hull FC.

After some good defensive play by the Broncos, London receive a great opportunity to get in a dangerous position to start the second half as Jack Charles dropped the ball on the fifth. However, Hull defend well, and Leyland gets brought down on the fifth for FC to get the ball back just meters from their try line.

In the 46^th minute, London get a penalty right in front of the sticks and, to take away the option of leaving this field position empty handed, opt to go for goal. Leyland converts comfortably and London get a ten-point lead.

Heading into the 50^th minute, Hull FC continue to attack the London try line and their chip through on the fifth is booted dead by Miloudi, forcing a London goal line drop out. Once more though, FC can’t convert as Sao knocks the ball on in the first play of the set.

The 50^th to 60^th minute was all Hull FC on the attack. Two quick fire ‘six again’ calls from the Liam Rush due to mistakes by Jones & Lovell kept the Hull side pushing and probing to get their second try of the game. However, as was the story of this fixture, the Broncos carried on working as a team and defended incredibly well to prevent Hull from getting any more points on the board and the ten-minute spell of danger for London was put to an end as Cartwright knocked the ball on and then London got an immediate penalty for offside from the scrum.

In the 61^st minute, London got a penalty only meters out from the Hull FC try line due to a disruption in the play of the ball by the Hull FC player and just like they had done 15 minutes prior, Leyland got the kicking tee out and put another two points on the board for the Broncos, extending their lead to 12 points and putting Hull FC in the most desperate position which they had been all game as they would now have to score two converted try’s just for the opportunity to draw level in the game.

After a lacklustre spell from both sides in the 60^th to 70^th minute, with multiple mistakes from both teams, Leyland found himself right in front of the sticks once more on the fifth and took full advantage by slotting a drop goal to extend the London led to 13.

With the 13-point lead in London’s favour, Hull FC had to make desperate plays to find their way back into the game with less than 10 minutes left. Taking a short kick off, Martin’s foot went into touch when trying to recover the ball and London get possession back 5m into their own half. It can be argued that this was the moment that full momentum began shifting in the way of London.

The Broncos drive the ball down the field very well on this set and on the fifth, Campagnolo launches a high kick straight down the middle of the pitch which is chased by Rourke. Rourke competes to recover the high kick, jumping over the top of the FC fullback, taking control of the ball in the air and grounding to score his second and London’s third try of the afternoon. Leyland converts- game, set, match. All London now needs to do is keep control of the ball & defend well and they can leave Hull with a smile on their face and a win under their belt.

Heading into the final 5 minutes Hull, who kick short to restart once again, push the ball into touch and London put the icing on the cake with an Oli Leyland try which will be long remembered by London fans at Elland Road & watching from home. The Broncos get themselves set very well and a pass from Leyland to Emmanuel Waine sees the Papa New Guinean power through the FC defender and pass back to Leyland for the Kent born halfback to place the ball down under the sticks & the easy conversion took the game to the full-time score- Hull FC 4-29 London Broncos!

Half time: 12-4

Full Time: 29-4

Referee: Liam Rush

Penalties conceded: 4-10

London Broncos

Team:

23) Josh Rourke, 2) Lee Kershaw, 3) Jarred Bassett, 12) Ethan Natoli, 4) Hakim Miloudi, 6) Jack Campagnolo, 20) Oli Leyland, 19) Rhys Kennedy, 9) Sam Davis, 8) Rob Butler, 11) Will Lovell, 17) Sadiq Adebiyi, 15) Marcus Stock

Interchanges: 18) Emmanuel Waine, 34) Ugo Tison, 10) Lewis Bienek, 29) Jacob Jones

Try: Rourke (6, 73), Campagnolo (25), Leyland (76).

Conversion Leyland 4/4

Penalty kick: Leyland 2/2

Drop goal- Leyland 1/1

Sin-bin:

Hull FC

Team:

31) Jack Walker, 25) Harvey Barron, 3) Carlos Tuimavave, 44) Tom Briscoe, 26) Lewis Martin, 40) Jack Charles, 19) Morgan Smith, 8) Herman Ese’ese, 15) Jordan Lane, 12) Ligi Sao, 43) Ed Chamberlain, 48) Jed Cartwright, 45) Yusuf Aydin

Interchanges: 28) Denive Balmforth, 52) Sam Eseh Jr, 13) Brad Fash, 27) Zach Jebson

Try: Martin (9)

Conversion: Charles 0/1

Penalty kick:

Drop Goal:

Sin-bin: