Blacklock keeps Hull afloat

Huddersfield 28 Hull 36

Nathan Blacklock scored a sparkling hat-trick as Hull survived a stirring fightback from Huddersfield yesterday.

Nathan Blacklock scored a sparkling hat-trick as Hull survived a stirring fightback from Huddersfield yesterday.

John Kear's side had raced into a 22-0 lead inside the first 25 minutes, assisted by some woeful defending from Huddersfield. But three late tries saw Hull holding on for victory at the end of a thrilling match.

Blacklock opened the scoring in the sixth minute as he intercepted a pass from Chris Thorman from close range. With Huddersfield reeling, the Hull scrum-half Peter Lupton broke from deep inside his own half and sent Tom Saxton over.

Paul Cooke then fashioned an opening for Chris Chester to score the third and the big forward then turned creator for Kirk Yeaman to stroll over.

The Huddersfield substitute Eorl Crabtree dived on Thorman's grubber for a try. But at the start of the second half Ben Roarty was placed on report for using his elbow in a tackle. Cooke kicked the penalty.

Paul White reduced the gap with a neat try in the corner, but Blacklock then scored twice, the second an 80-metre run after intercepting Paul March's pass.

Thorman's try on the hour, which he also converted, sparked a fightback. Stuart Donlan looked like he had scored but Blacklock dislodged the ball to prevent a certain try. But, with six minutes to go, Donlan was not to be denied as he raced to the line with Thorman tagging the extras.

White produced a dazzling run with barely a minute to go to score Huddersfield's fifth try, but it was too little too late. Hull's Cooke converted five tries out of a possible six and that proved the difference between the sides.

Huddersfield: Reilly; O'Hare, Evans, Gene, Donlan; Thorman, Penkywicz; Jackson, Drew, Gannon, Nero, Jones, Roarty. Replacements: March, Smith, Crabtree, White.

Hull: Tony; Blacklock, Yeaman, Saxton, Raynor; R Horne, Lupton; Dowes, Swain, Higgins, McMenemy, Chester, Cooke. Replacements: Briscoe, Thackray, Hill, G Horne.

Referee: R Laughton (Barnsley).