Hull (8) 10
Tries: Turner, Whiting Goals: Tickle

Catalans (8) 8
Tries: McGuire Goals: Raguin, Bosc

Danny Tickle signed a three-year contract extension with Hull last week

Danny Tickle's second-half penalty won a barren game of just three tries.

But victory came at a cost for Hull at the KC Stadium with the loss of linchpin Shaun Long to a potential season-ending dislocated elbow injury.

After Jordan's Turner's early try for Hull, Catalans hit back to lead 6-4 through Casey McGuire's converted try.

Richard Whiting crossed for Hull only for Thomas Bosc's penalty to tie it up 8-8 at the break before Tickle's kick from out wide 14 minutes from time.

Hull cemented their position in fourth place but were pushed harder than they would have expected to be by the Super League's bottom side.

After Tickle's penalty, Hull held on to it too thanks to some stunning goal-line defence. But Dragons boss Kevin Walters will rue his side's failure to convert several glorious chances, with poor decisions from their halves, most notably Brent Sherwin, costing them a fourth win of the season.

Catalans barely saw the ball in the opening exchanges and it was of little surprise when Hull opened the scoring with 11 minutes on the clock.

Greg Mounis's tackle prevented Danny Houghton from going over but it only delayed the inevitable as the French side buckled under the weight of some heavy Hull pressure.

Breaks from Jordan Tansey and then Whiting allowed veteran schemer Long to break clear and, although his run was relieved by Frederic Vaccari, a penalty soon came and the ball was switched to Turner who cruised in for his fourth try in as many games.

McGuire snaked his way over from close range for the visitors after 19 minutes and Bosc's touchline goal allowed them to take the lead, although it was short-lived as Hull immediately hit back.

Whiting chipped the kick-off high and short, Tickle took it in and the ball was eventually recycled through to Whiting who took advantage of Vaccari's poor positioning to cross in the corner for a ninth try of the season.

Tom Briscoe had a chance to add a further try for Hull but was bundled into touch and Turner threw a forward pass to Whiting who had another overlap.

But Bosc's 45-metre penalty 44 seconds before the interval after a needless infringement from Epalahame Lauaki sent the Catalans in level at the break.

Both sides had fine chances to score after the restart, with Setaimata Sa's tackle on Kirk Yeaman stopping the centre from bulldozing over, while at the other end, a flowing move involve Sa and Sherwin looked to have sent Dane Carlaw racing 70 metres to the line until a fine tackle from Tansey halted his

progress.

Hull's hopes were hit on the hour when Long was led off after a thunderous collision with Carlaw.

But Tickle's penalty from wide out on the left after Sa's late shot on Briscoe with 15 minutes to go.

That allowed Hull to regain some control, although they had some nervy moments to deal with before they could celebrate.

Hull coach Richard Agar said:

"Sean Long has dislocated his elbow. Obviously it's early. We don't know if it will be a season-ender or whether we'll get him back just before the end.

"It's a big concern because he's a big player for us and we'll find him very difficult to replace. It compounded an ordinary night for us."

Catalans coach Kevin Walters said:

"We should have got something, maybe a draw. That was our best performance of the season.

"That was the happiest I've been this season apart from the Batley game in the cup."

Hull: Tansey, Whiting, Turner, Yeaman, Briscoe, Washbrook, Long, Dowes, Houghton, Cusack, Manu, Tickle, Radford.
Replacements: Moa, Lauaki, Berrigan, Hall.

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Carlaw, Raguin, Sa, Vaccari, Bosc, Sherwin, Ferriol, McGuire, Guisset, Elima, Mounis, Johnson.
Replacements: Gossard, Fakir, Casty, Simon.

Referee: Thierry Alibert (Toulouse).

Attendance: 11,466.

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