Hull FC (12) 28
Tries: Fitzgibbon, Yeaman, Hall, Tickle Goals: Tickle 3, Fitzgibbon

Harlequins RL (0) 4
Tries: Clubb

Fitzgibbon joined Hull FC from Sydney Roosters

Hull bounced back from their shock defeat at Crusaders with a comfortable home win over Harlequins RL.

Craig Fitzgibbon opened the scoring after being sent clear by Willie Manu, before Shaun Berrigan put Kirk Yeaman in to give Hull a 12-0 half-time lead.

Craig Hall outpaced the Quins defence from halfway for try number three, before Danny Tickle burrowed over.

Tony Clubb chased down his own kick to get Quins on the board only for Richard Horne to reply with an individual try.

Despite Hull being without talismanic playmaker Sean Long because of a hamstring injury, there was never any threat of the Black and Whites suffering a repeat of last week's reverse in Wales after a powerful opening 20 minutes.

It took Hull just 10 minutes to get their noses in front when Richard Whiting's clever offload presented Manu with the chance to send Fitzgibbon over for a simple score.

606: DEBATE FC answered their critics tonight with a great team performance hullfclaydee

And they were in control midway through the first half when Berrigan's well-timed pass allowed Yeaman to burst over.

Quins battled their way back into the game but any realistic hopes of a comeback were dashed when Hall raced clear after a scrum on halfway and Tickle went over from close range in the opening 10 minutes of the second period.

Clubb's try, given by the video referee, was no more than Harlequins deserved, but Horne had the final word when he dummied his way through from 10 metres to cap a good evening's work for Hull.

Hull coach Richard Agar:
"We had to make some changes and people said 'can we play without Long?' But we have shown that last week was just us being flat.

"We needed to aim up in a couple of areas and we did. Everybody is getting to grips with things at this stage in the year, adapting to conditions and styles and that is part of the challenge.

"I am confident that this won't be the same as last year when we struggled and we will be a more consistent team. I'm confident we have got the personnel and the capability.

Harlequins coach Brian McDermott:
"I'm not concerned about our form. We've got some blokes missing and we recognised it was going to be a tough start to the season.

"As long as the effort is there and as long as we don't implode, we will get some momentum.

"I think it's great that some of our young players are improving in there, the likes of Ben Bolger, and there are some good signs there."

Hull: Whiting, Calderwood, Hall, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Turner, Horne, Radford, Berrigan, O'Meley, Manu, Tickle, Fitzgibbon.
Replacements: Houghton, Cusack, Dowes, Lauaki.

Harlequins RL: Jones-Bishop, O'Callaghan, Clubb, Howell, Sharp, Melling, Orr, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Randall, Wilkes, Williamson, Esders, Golden.
Replacements: Temata, Ward, Bolger, Smith.

Att: 13,965.

Referee: S. Ganson (St Helens).

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