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Page last updated at 16:18 GMT, Saturday, 1 May 2010 17:18 UK

Hull 8-25 Harlequins

Hull (0) 8
Tries: Houghton, Briscoe

Harlequins RL (15) 25
Tries: Randall, Sharp, Dorn, Penny, Gale Goals: Orr 2 Drop-goals: Randall

By Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Murrayfield

Kevin Penny & Luke Dorn
Kevin Penny is congratulated by Luke Dorn after scoring Harlequins' fourth try.

Harlequins provided the second turn-up of Murrayfield's Magic Weekend by easing to a 25-8 win over Hull FC.

Following the lead set by Crusaders' 19-0 win against Bradford, Quins proved that last weekend's victory at Super League leaders Wigan was no fluke.

Three tries in the first half-hour from Chad Randall, Will Sharp and Luke Dorn paved the way to a third league win.

Kevin Penny and Luke Gale also crossed, Hull's two second-half tries coming from Danny Houghton and Tom Briscoe.

In unseasonally cold conditions for early May, even with the sun peeping through the clouds, chilling Murrayfield was none too welcoming a place.

But Quins were still feeling understandably warmed up by last weekend's stunning 38-26 comeback win at Wigan.

And, within 28 minutes, Hull coach Richard Agar must have felt like screaming 'Mayday' after his injury-hit side shipped three tries.

Stand-off Randall ran in for the first on eight minutes before second row Karl Temata and centre David Howell combined to feed Sharp in to the left corner a further eight minutes on.

Chief Quins play-maker Dorn, standing in at full-back following the fractured skull suffered by Ben Jones-Bishop against Wigan, then skipped in for try number three on 28 minutes.

606: DEBATE

Hooker Danny Orr was only successful with one of his three first-half conversions, but Randall partially atoned with a drop goal right on the half-time hooter to stretch Quins' interval lead to 15 points.

To add to Hull's woes, they picked up another couple of injuries before the break.

With a casualty list which has already claimed influential duo Sean Long and Craig Fitzgibbon, they lost forward Epalahame Lauaki with a torn calf - and had Richard Horne clearly not firing on all cylinders .

On-loan Warrington winger Kevin Penny then claimed his second try for the club 12 minutes into the second half when he went over in the right corner to increase the advantage to 19 points.

With the game about to enter its final quarter, hooker Danny Houghton gave Hull hope by pulling a try back.

And left-winger Tom Briscoe needed some fancy footwork to avoid going into touch as he nipped in for a second try with four minutes left.

But Craig Hall missed both conversions - and it was Quins who had the last word, scrum-half Luke Gale rounding off their third straight victory, Orr adding the extras.


Harlequins coach Brian McDermott said:

"The first 40 minutes were very good. Some of the stuff we played was good to watch. We've not turned the corner yet, but we're turning it. We've been playing like that for a good month now. It's been building and building.

"The second 40 minutes weren't very good but some of that was down to Hull. They had a crack and put us under a bit more pressure.

"It has to be said we weren't playing a full-strength Hull team and when Epalahame Lauaki went off it made it even tougher for them."

Hull coach Richard Agar said:

"We've got some blokes trying their backsides off and some guys are not aiming up.

"But Lauaki tore his calf and Richard Horne soldiered on despite knocks to his knee and shin and that was a blow.

"Having the week off next week will help us get our big hitters back. We need them back. We're missing a certain amount of control and nous."


Hull FC: Tansey, Whiting, Hall, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Turner, Horne, Dowes, Houghton, O'Meley, Manu, Burnett, Washbrook.
Replacements: Moa, Radford, Lauaki, McShane.

Harlequins RL: Dorn, Sharp, Clubb, Howell, Penny, Randall, Gale, Ward, Orr, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Purdham, Temata, Melling.
Replacements: Jones, Williams, Esders, Wilkes.

Referee: G Hewer (Wakefield).



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see also
Hull 12-8 Wakefield
23 Apr 10 |  My Club
Wigan 26-38 Harlequins
23 Apr 10 |  My Club
Rugby League on the BBC
15 Oct 10 |  Rugby League
Rugby league commentaries
03 Apr 10 |  Rugby League


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