Two off as Catalans beat Hull on Tomkins return

Betfred Super League

Catalans (14) 24

Tries: McIlorum, Tomkins, Garcia, Davies Goals: Mourgue 4

Hull FC (6) 16

Tries: Tuimavave, Walker, Martin Goals: Charles 2

A Sam Tomkins-inspired Catalans Dragons beat Hull FC to move up to fourth in Super League after both sides played most of a highly charged game with 12 men.

The hosts had Tariq Sims sent off inside eight minutes for a swinging arm on Ed Chamberlain, and Hull’s Ligi Sao followed him nine minutes later for a high tackle on Tomkins.

Michael McIlorum and Tomkins crossed and Arthur Mourgue booted three goals, with Carlos Tuimavave replying, as Catalans led 14-6 at the break.

Jack Walker cut the deficit to two points, but Ben Garcia and Tom Davies secured an important win for Catalans despite Lewis Martin’s late score.

Catalans were far from their best, but a ninth home win of the season lifts them above Salford and St Helens into fourth – four points above seventh-placed Leeds – to boost their hopes of a top-six finish.

Second-bottom Hull remain winless on the road this season and four points above London Broncos.

Former England captain Tomkins, 35, attracted plenty of attention after his surprise decision to come out of retirement, and he wasted no time in grabbing the headlines.

In the opening 25 minutes, the two-time Man of Steel winner had been involved in one try, scored another and was the victim in Sao’s sending off.

It took him less than three minutes to make an impact when a less-than-vintage chip kick caused havoc and McIlorum showed good skills to dribble the loose ball over the line and touch down.

A calf injury forced off second-rower McIlorum soon after, and the Airlie Birds were given another huge boost when Sims was sent off for catching Chamberlain and then attempting to pick up the grounded winger.

And when Tomkins spilled the ball, Tuimavave broke away into Catalans territory and from the next play the Samoan centre finished a flowing move to level.

But Hull quickly threw away their man advantage when Sao also saw red for “dangerous and direct” contact with Tomkins’ head, and Mourgue booted the hosts back in front from the resulting penalty.

If Tomkins had shown a little rustiness, he reverted to customary creativity after 23 minutes as a show-and-go created a gap to snipe through for his 161st Super League try.

Both depleted sides struggled for fluency in sapping conditions, but Hull closed the gap to two points early in the second half when Walker collected a loose ball to cross unchallenged after Denive Balmforth’s break.

Yet Catalans restored their eight-point lead when Garcia barged over under the posts.

Hull, who stunned Wigan last time out in an improving campaign, continued to push, but their resistance was broken when the hosts moved the ball wide to give Davies a walk-in.

Hopes were raised again when Martin collected a high kick to bring the visitors within eight points with five minutes left, but when Charles skewed the conversion attempt wide, the game was up.

Catalans: Tomkins, Davies, Romano, Laguerre, Ikuvalu, Mourgue, Fages, Navarrete, McIlorum, Bousquet, Sims, Sironen, Garcia.

Interchanges: Satae, Dezaria, Aispuro-Bichet, Wallace.

Red card: Sims (8).

Hull FC: Walker, Barron, Tuimavave, Sutcliffe, Martin, Trueman, Charles, Ese’ese, Smith, Sao, Lane, Chamberlain, Aydin.

Interchanges: Balmforth, Fash, Gardiner, Vuniyayawa.

Red card: Sao (17).

Referee: Liam Rush.