Frech from their stunning win over the Wigan Warriors in
round nineteen, Hull FC returned to the pitch where they are struggling for
wins to take on lowly Huddersfield Giants who are grasping for any crumbs of
hope as they look to increase the breathing space between themselves and
Salford at the bottom.

The visitors had a twelve point start on the coupon with
few, even their own supports, optimistic of them taking the points to double
the gap to the bottom side, the smart money was on a Hull win which would lift
them back above Wakefield Trinity and back into the top six.

Both games so far in 2025 between the two sides have been
very close, Hull winning the first by just a Aidan Sezer drop goal and the
Giants the second by just two points, the neutrals hoping for something as
close today.

The opening exchanged were all with Hull in possession and
deep in the Giants half. Harvey Barron was held up over the line on six, and a
flying Davy Litten was pushed into touch as he leapt for the opposite corner
two plays later.

Having absorbed seemingly endless pressure it was the Giants
who hit the front on fifteen, Adam Swift taking the pass five from the line and
grounding in the corner before the cover defence could get to him. George
Flanagan converted brilliantly from the touchline.

FC got their first points in twenty-seven as Litten drew the
defenders before a one-handed pass to Lewis Martin to score the try in the
corner.  Jack Charles was just wide of
the far post with the touchline conversion attempt.

Six minutes from the interval the Giants were in for their
second, Joe Greenwood chasing and grounding a Matt Frawley precision grubber
after the half back slipped as he prepared to kick. Flanagan was on target; the
Giants lead up to eight points.

Four minutes later the Giants went further ahead after a
sloppy pass from Sezer was picked up by Jake Bibby who sprinted fifty metres to
score, outpacing Barron to go in ten from the left corner. Flanagan added the
conversion, the ‘Hull home hoodoo’ looked like it was back.

Harvey Barron grounded the ball on the touchline on
forty-five, the video referee overruling the on-field official.

The game boiled over on forty-nine with pushing and shoving,
the referee keeping his cards in his pocket.

Fifteen minutes from the restart, the Giants first real
chance of the half, saw Flanagan take the pass from Tui Lolohea, throw the
dummy, and go in at the corner. Flanagan’s conversion left the Airlie Birds
needing four tries to take the lead.

The first of those came on sixty-one, Martin getting his
second in an acre of space down the left wing after taking a delightful tip
pass from Litten. Charles converted brilliantly from wide, the margin down to
fourteen.

But four minutes after Hull grabbed a lifeline, Tui Lolohea
put his boot on their fingers as he jinked through the defensive line to score
under the sticks. Flanagan kicked the easiest of conversions for 30-10, the
points safely in the Giants pocket.

Great interplay between Martin and Litten turned the Giants
defence inside out allowed the former to complete his hat-trick with a theatrical
dive in at the corner. Charles was unable to add the conversion from the left
touchline, Hull still sixteen adrift with seven minutes remaining.

A crucial two points for the Giants who beat Hull for the
second time in 2025 as they move to eight points, four clear of bottom placed
Salford and just two behind fellow strugglers Castleford Tigers. The Giants put
in a consistent performance but once again Hull were dreadful, emptying the
stands with ten minutes of the game remaining as the Old Faithful headed for
the exits. Hull squandered the chance to make the top six, their destiny now
out of their own hands.

Hull FC: Hardaker, Barron, Rapana, Litten, Martin (3T), Charles
(G 1/3), Sezer, Ese’ese, Cust, Knight, Ashworth, Cartwright, Aydin. Subs: Bourouh,
Briscoe, Eseh, Watts. 18^th Man: Laidlaw.

Huddersfield Giants: Flanagan (T, G 5/5), Swift (T), Bibby
(T), Milne, Gagai, Frawley, Lolohea (T), Rogers, Woolford, Powell, Rushton,
Greenwood (T), Cudjoe. Subs: Golding, English, King, Burgess. 18^th
Man: Rush. 

Half-Time: 4-18.

Full-Time: 14-30.

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 4-10, 4-12, 4-16, 4-18 :
HT: 4-22, 4-24, 8-24, 10-24, 10-28, 10-30, 14-28, 14-30 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Huddersfield.

Referee: Tom Grant.