Fifth against tenth in the Super League table as round fourteen got underway with Hull FC eying fourth spot in the table, facing a Castleford Tigers side who wanted the points to lift themselves farther away from the bottom two as they cling onto their very remote hopes of a play-off position.

The black & whites were the favourites for the win and handicapped by twelve points on the coupon, two more than the margin by which they beat Castleford when the two sides met in March.

A win of any description would see Hull FC into fourth spot, at least until Sunday evening, a Castleford win would lift them two points further away from the Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils.

The visitors were first over the whitewash as early as the third minute as Innes Senior went for the left corner and stretched to ground before being dragged into touch, silencing the home support. Rowan Milnes kicked a brilliant touchline conversion for a 6-0 lead.

The Airlie Birds registered their first points of the game on fourteen, Harvey Barron taking a looping Cade Cust over the top pass and stepping off his right foot twice to confuse the Tigers defence and go over from ten metres. Aidan Sezer added his conversion from wide to level the scores.

A brilliant solo run from Louis Senior saw the Tigers man emulate his brother as he fended off a tackler and then outfoxed three tacklers to run the angle and go over from twenty metres. Milnes was on target with another touchline conversion for a 12-6 lead.

Tom Amone was held up over the line on thirty-four and on the next play some great Hull defence prevented Innes Senior from getting his second of the game as he was pushed into touch.

Moments later Barron was denied by Senior as he was pulled into touch in the act of scoring, the game was a real armwrestle.

FC had a try ruled out within three minutes if the restart for an offside in the build-up.

It was a comedy of errors at the start of the second half, both sides making unforced handling errors.

Matty Laidlaw was held up just short of the line on forty-eight, as Hull went for the powerplay on the last.

The Tigers were throwing the dice and were not going to die wondering. On fifty-six Daejarn Asi took a pass ten from the line, ducked under a tackle, and used fleet feet to dive over the line. Milnes added the goal for a twelve-point lead.

Milnes attempted a drop goal on sixty-seven, but the ball sailed wide of the uprights.

Eight minutes from time, Tom Amone took an inside pass and darted through a gap to score by the uprights as t he Hull defence flapped at him. Milnes missed with his fourth conversion attempt of the night, this one the easiest but badly mishit.

Hull FC struck straight back with Lewis Martin on the end of a passing move to go in on the overlap down the left side off a Jordan Rapana pass. Sezer was unable to add the extras and with five minutes remaining the gap was still twelve points.

Within two minutes Martin was in again thanks to a two on one break down the left side but again Sezer was off target with the conversion, FC still needing two scores in the last three minutes, but the clock would beat them as the Tigers defence held firm.

Yet another home defeat for the black and whites as they succumb to a Castleford Tigers side that they were hot favourites to beat. Danny McGuire will be delighted with his side, and their workmanlike performance, as they move six points clear of the bottom two and within two points of a Catalans Dragons side who are seemingly in terminal decline after taking another huge beating on the other side of the city.

Hull FC: Rapana, Barron (T), Briscoe, Litten. Martin (2T), Cust, Sezer (G 1/2), Ese’ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Chamberlain, Aydin. Subs: Balmforth, Ashworth, Laidlaw, Eseh. 18^th Man: Charles.

Castleford Tigers: Cini, Simm, Senior L (T), Wood, Senior I (T), Asi (T), Milnes (G 3/4), Amone (T), Horne, Singleton, Lawler, Mellor, Atkin. Subs: Westerman, Griffin, Hall, Hill. 18^th Man: Okoro.  

Half-Time: 6-12.

Full-Time: 14-22.  

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12 : HT: 6-16, 6-18, 6-22, 10-22, 14-22 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Castleford – Square - Castleford.

Referee: Aaron Moore.