Toulouse end seven-match losing streak with Hull win

Betfred Super League

Hull FC (4) 4

Try: Briscoe

Toulouse (12) 12

Tries: Ashall-Bott, Cator Goals: Shorrocks 2

Hull FC missed the chance to move into the top half of Super League after slipping to a hugely disappointing home defeat by struggling Toulouse.

A flat and predictable performance from Hull in attack presented the French side with the opportunity to put an end to a run of seven straight defeats and they took it with a gutsy display at the MKM Stadium.

Two tries in the opening 10 minutes from full-back Olly Ashall-Bott down the left and loose-forward Joe Cator gave Toulouse a lead which they defended with relish in the greasy conditions.

Hull, who hit back with a first-half try from Tom Briscoe, could not find a way through Toulouse's rearguard in a scoreless second-half period as the visitors chalked up a first ever win over the Black and Whites to move two points clear of bottom side Huddersfield Giants.

Toulouse dominated Hull in the first half with their simple but effective gameplan and their lead was the least they deserved.

After Hull's thumping win over Castleford last week, there was expectation in the air at the MKM Stadium but they fell well short in a grim opening period and the boos rang out at half-time.

Toulouse got off to a flier with their tries through Ashall-Bott down the left and Cator who took a good line to score against his former club. Jake Shorrocks added the extras on both occasions.

It was against the run of play when veteran wing Briscoe crossed for Hull in the 32nd minute with a good finish from what was just about their only coherent attack.

Losing second row Connor Bailey to a suspected broken collarbone only underlined that it was a half to forget for Hull.

Andy Last's men picked up after the break, putting sustained pressure on Toulouse and Briscoe came close as Hull put in a chip behind the French side's defence.

A timely intervention from Ashall-Bott with 15 minutes left thwarted Lewis Martin as he bore down on Davy Litten's kick and when the Hull wing threatened again the excellent Ashall-Bott came to the rescue once more.

In the end, for all their territory, the hosts were frustratingly toothless and they have a lot of thinking to do over the next fortnight before they take on Bradford Bulls on 17 May.

Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:

"It wasn't a great game to be part of. We got a great crowd in but we didn't give them great moments to sing and get behind.

"I was really, really disappointed with the performance. Considering what we spoke about all week with regards to attitude, I thought we dipped our toes in.

"They got 12 points in front and the hope they started the game with turned to confidence and then we were just unable to knock that out of them.

"The way that we played lacked fluency and speed. It was very, very disappointing on the back of a good performance last week where we looked sharp.

"It was a really flat performance. We had 46 play-the-balls in the opposition's half which is a massive, massive amount but we just didn't pose a big enough threat.

"There's a lot of soul-searching in that changing room and rightly so because there's some questions that need to be asked.

"That wasn't good enough and I'll be making sure the players are aware of it and we'll be better when we play Bradford."

Toulouse head coach Sylvain Houles told BBC Radio Humberside:

"That win was really important for us. We've had a few good performances where we didn't get the result and losing every time is tough.

"We know we have a long way to go in Super League but to end that losing streak and to get the two points is going to be really healthy for us.

"The boys came out knowing exactly what we wanted from them and they did it. I'm very proud of what they achieved.

"With the amount of possession inside our 20, it was a heroic defensive performance."

Hull FC: Moy; Briscoe, Newman, Litten, Martin; Arthur, Sezer; Fash, Bourouh, Hill, Bailey, Hardaker, Bell

Interchanges: Batchelor, Cust, Aydin, Mata'utia

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Laguerre, Polselli, Jussaume, Ulberg; Rouge, Shorrocks; Roumanos, Hands, Chan, O'Kane, Stefani, Cator

Interchanges: Marion, Butler, Wallace, Gillam

Referee: Matty Lynn.