Nofoaluma Brace Helps York To Shock Win At Hull FC
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Betfred Super League, MKM Stadium
Hull FC (10) 16
Tries: Litten, Barron, Martin Goals: Hardaker 2
York Knights (6) 17
Tries: Nofoaluma 2, Jones-Bishop Goals: Richardson 2 Drop-goal: Richardson
Danny Richardson's drop-goal earned York Knights a 2nd shock win in three weeks as they won at Hull FC.
Having stunned champions Hull KR in the opening round, York followed up with another famous day for the Knights who are playing in their very first Super League season.
Two tries from David Nofoaluma, on his debut, and Ben Jones-Bishop's rating assisted construct a 16-10 lead, before Richardson dropped the extra point.
It showed decisive as Lewis Martin's late shot for Hull set up a tense ending, however York persevered in their last defensive set and climb to 3rd in the early season standings.
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After a popular win in their launching Super League fixture, York were brought back down to earth with a 46-14 drubbing by Leeds last weekend.
But here they proved triumph over Hull KR was no fluke and it might show a season of surprises for the Knights, while the Airlie Birds pondered a second successive defeat.
They scored the opening shot as Toa Mata'afa put Nofoaluma over for his first score for his brand-new club.
A knock-on offered Hull a prime assaulting platform and from the scrum, Davy Litten took Jake Arthur's pass to power over and level.
Connor Bailey then released Harvey Barron and the Hull winger completed well to offer the hosts a 10-6 half-time lead.
The weather condition turned foul in the 2nd half and it was the home side who failed to deal with the conditions as Barron knocked on in his own 20, and gave Nofoaluma a face the left corner to bring York level.
Hull were then lowered to 12 males for Jed Cartwright's take on from an offside position and the visitors took complete advantage to put Jones-Bishop into the ideal corner in front of their supporters.
With 14 minutes to play, York took the possibility to move more than a rating ahead and Richardson slotted an easy drop-goal from 25 backyards out.
It proved the proper decision as Martin touched down Cade Cust's grubber in the penultimate minute and Zak Hardaker's objective from the left touchline offered York one final set to defend.
'They simply played more constant footie' - Hull FC response
Hull FC head coach John Cartwright informed BBC Radio Humberside:
"They scored an early try however we addressed that pretty well and after that controlled the very first half, but I believed we should have scored more points.
"The last 5 minutes of the half we were camped on their line but had a number of common sets. We must have come into the sheds 10 points up.
"Second half there were then a lot of errors but they just played more constant footie."
'It was a real test of character' - York reaction
York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth informed BBC Radio York:
"I thought we began extremely well however then invited Hull back into the game in that very first half and they capitalised on it extremely well.
"We then spoke at half-time about not chasing the scoreboard and constructing some composure and I believed we were exceptional doing that.
"We believed we 'd make it a two-score video game that constructed the scoreboard pressure, they threw whatever at us and it was a genuine test of character."
Hull FC: Litten, Barron, Hardaker, Romano, Martin, Arthur, Sezer, Bourouh, Hill, Bailey, Cartwright, Aydin
Replacements: Asiata, Cust, Fash, Lisone
Sin-bin: Cartwright
York Knights: Mata'afa, Jones-Bishop, Wood, Williams, Nofoaluma, Richardson, Harris, Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Griffin, Field, Thompson
Replacements: Balmforth, Va'a, Sangare, Vuniyayawa
Referee: James Vella