Hull FC Reserves 18 Leeds Rhinos Reserves 16

A tough battle at the University of Hull saw Leeds Rhinos Reserves’ unbeaten start to 2025 come to an end as they lost out 18-16 to Hull FC Reserves.

A low-scoring first half saw both sides’ defensive resolve hold the score to 12-6 in favour of the home side after 40 minutes. Hull’s Callum Kemp opened an opportunity for points inside the first five minutes as he tapped a kick ahead for Logan Moy to chase, but Alfie Edgell was alert to the threat and defused the kick. The Hull half-back also looked to set up Joe Ward with a kick out wide, but the winger couldn’t connect with the ball before he went over the dead-ball line.

At the opposite end of the field, Marcus Qareqare looked to build on a strong performance for the Under-18s last time out, but his drive for the line saw the centre come up short. Shane Tuohey tried a similar effort out of dummy half but lost the ball under pressure from Sam Eseh to end the Leeds attack.

After the tight opening exchanges, two quick tries for Francis Cummins’ side Leeds on the back foot with 20 minutes played. A drive for the try line from Will Hutchinson saw the hooker get over under the posts for the first try of the game, before Eseh orchestrated a try as he took an inside ball from Callum Kemp and offloaded away for Will Kirby to touch down. Kemp added both conversions to take the score to 12-0.

The young Rhinos needed a response with half time in sight, and Chev Walker’s side kicked themselves into a new gear as they tried to find a score. Jack Smith beat the black and whites’ sliding defence but was held up over the line, but when the chance looked to be gone, a stroke of luck gave Leeds their first points. Hull were transitioning from defence into attack after stopping the visitors from driving over the try line, but a poor pass from Hutchinson was snatched by George Brown, who ran to the posts to score his third try of the season.

 A late flurry of chances saw Dax Millington and Lloyd Kemp score tries for either side, but the half-time whistle ended an intense first 40 minutes as Hull took a 12-6 lead into the break.

The second half was equally as poised as the first, as both sides fought until the final whistle to take the two league points on offer.

Hull camped on the Rhinos' try line early in search of points, only for Callum Kemp to bomb a kick over the dead-ball line and end a spell of pressure early in the contest. Walker’s side responded well as Zak Lloyd and Harry Smith combined to break downfield and set up a certain try as Smith’s chip to the corner was collected by Brown. Although Leeds started to celebrate, the referee disallowed the try as Brown was judged to be offside.

Buoyed by the effort, the Rhinos started to grow into the half and got their rewards to level the score. Tuohey set up the Leeds attack as the Hull defence opened up for the hooker to race through. Moy’s tackle stopped Tuohey in his tracks, but the Rhinos set up well to send the ball wide and put Qareqare over for the equalising score.

The action continued to flow between the two clubs, as back-to-back Leeds chances saw Jack Smith caught short of the line and then last-ditch defending scrambled to stop Oliver Smart from sneaking over too. The black and whites responded as Elliot Middlemas did his best to connect with Ben Johnson’s kick, but the ball didn’t sit right for the winger to ground the ball.

Advantage went the way of the home side with 20 minutes to go; Will Gardiner crashed over from short range to make the score 18-16 with Kemp’s crucial conversion.

Instead of sitting back, Leeds looked to mount another comeback, and Smith almost got the required try with another charge but was called held up by the referee. The chance eventually fell to Oscar Brown as Hull’s resolute defence finally showed cracks, and the substitute hit a hole on the edge to set Zak Lloyd up for the game-tying conversion. The kick agonisingly hit the left upright and bounced away to see Hull home with an 18-16 final score.