Hull heap further pressure on toothless Dragons

Betfred Super League

Catalans (0) 0

Hull FC (16) 34

Tries: Ese'ese, Martin, Pryce 2, Litten, Briscoe Goals: Sezer 5

Hull FC heaped further pressure on struggling Catalans Dragons, inflicting a third Super League shutout on the bounce and back to back victories on the French side for the first time in nine years.

A six-try demolition from the visitors showed up all the current weaknesses of the sloppy home side who have now gone three games, against St Helens, Wigan and now Hull FC without scoring a single point.

But the frailties of the toothless Dragons should not take away from a ruthless and at times dazzling performance from the Black and Whites in a sun-drenched Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Herman Ese'ese, Lewis Martin, Will Pryce, Davy Litten and Tom Briscoe's scores ensured Hull brought home two points in style.

Ese'ese got the ball rolling after 10 minutes, barrelling over from close range before Martin finished a length of the field charge after a desperate from Luke Keary gifted possession five yards from the Hull goal-line eight minutes later.

Yet it was a brace of tries from Hull's exciting 22-year-old full back Pryce which really lit up this contest, the first on 40 minutes from 20 metres inside his own half and the second a scorching 80 metres up the field, which really set the game alight.

Further tries for Litten and Briscoe either side of Pryce's second in the second period compounded Catalans Dragons' misery and moved the visitors up to fifth place in the Super League table.

It is now five games and one coach since Catalans' golden point 24-20 win over Wakefield Trinity on 26 April with 40-0 reverse at St Helens, a 48-0 home drubbing by Wigan and now this.

While Hull FC are a fast improving outfit under John Cartwright with some exciting younger talent coming through and were roared on by a huge travelling cheering a seventh away win of the season, Catalans looked broken at times under interim coach Joel Tomkins.

There were mistakes littered through their performance with handling errors leading to the Martin try, the 16th of his campaign, and another from Fouad Yaha to the kick and chase try from Litten.

But more worryingly there looked to be a collective surrender which showed itself when Pryce's electrifying bursts shone a light on their desire to chase and tackle.

Tommy Makinson was one of the brighter spots in the dark place that Catalans currently find themselves and he nearly delivered points to avoid the shutout late in the piece with nine minutes of normal time to go.

But his effort close to the left touchline was ruled out for a foot in touch as he went over which summed up the day for the Dragons who slid to a fourth defeat on the trot and remain in ninth place in the Super League table.

Catalans: Smith; Makinson, Laguerre, Cotric, Yaha; Keary, Fages; Satae, Da Costa, Navarrete, Garcia, Romano, Partington

Interchanges: Rouge, Dezaria, Maria, Seguier

Hull FC: Pryce; Barron, Briscoe, Litten, Martin; Rapana, Sezer; Ese'ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Chamberlain, Aydin

Interchanges: Ashworth, Balmforth, Eseh, Laidlaw

Referee: Liam Moore.