Super League: Hull 48-12 London Broncos

Gareth Ellis made a winning start on his Hull FC debut as London Broncos were crushed at the KC Stadium.

The first half was close-fought, Matt Cook's opener being overhauled by scores from Ben Crooks and Richard Whiting for the Airlie Birds.

Hull ran riot after half-time, as Crooks collected his brace to add to a double from Tom Briscoe.

Kirk Yeaman, Joe Westerman and Mark O'Meley completed the rout, as Michael Witt notched the Broncos consolation.

Daniel Holdsworth landed six conversions on his return, sharing kicking duties with Crooks, who booted goals to complete a 100% strike rate.

Witt posted his two kicks to finish with an individual eight-point haul.

Ellis, celebrating his 32nd birthday, had been due to start against Leeds on the opening weekend of the season but limped off in the warm-up - although there were no complications for the England international on this occasion.

London took the lead with a Matt Cook try from Tommy Lee's short pass, but Ben Crooks' score courtesy of Richard Horne's pass and a Danny Houghton-inspired Whiting score ensured the hosts went in ahead at the break.

Crooks recorded his 11th Super League try of the campaign in the second half as Hull took control, with Holdsworth the catalyst from half-back.

Yeaman's score was the product of swift hands, notably from Shannon McDonnell - the summer signing from city rivals Kingston Rovers who continues to keep academy product Jamie Shaul out of the side.

Witt's score punctuated the Hull scoring, but Westerman and O'Meley ensured a comfortable win with two scores in the last 13 minutes.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Hull head coach Peter Gentle:

"I told Gareth Ellis he would play for 25 minutes and then we would get him off, but I played him for 80, so he knows I tell fibs now.

Richard Horne just tightened up, and Joe Westerman got a nasty dislocation on his thumb, but it managed to go back in okay and obviously he'll have scans on that tomorrow.

"Daniel Holdsworth was always going to come off around the 50-minute mark. We pushed him out to the 60-minute mark and the game was pretty much put to bed by then. He has got no side effects whatsoever, and he's ready to go next week."

London Broncos head coach Tony Rae:

"In the first half we were fighting and competing which kept us right in the contest, but as you saw in the second half we just didn't compete.

"I thought we tried to force the ball a little too much early on. We needed to be more controlled with the ball. When we were on top we tried to do something magical but it was actually about being controlled.

"Just thought individuals decided it was too hard to make a tackle. They decided to quit on their mates and they didn't do their jobs. When there was a loose ball they stopped and were hoping they didn't have to get their job done. There were too many blokes out there who were prepared to let their mates down."

FRIDAY'S LINE-UPS

Hull: McDonnell; Lineham, Crooks, Yeaman, T Briscoe; Holdsworth, Horne; Watts, Houghton, O'Meley, Ellis, Westerman, Whiting.

Replacements: Heremaia, Lynch, Pitts, Johnson.

London Broncos: Dorn; Robertson, Grady, Sarginson, Dixon; Witt, Gower; Kaufusi, Lee, Krasniqi, Lovell, Bailey, Cook

Replacements: Bryant, Fisher, Mendeika, Dollapi.

Attendance: 11,490.

Referee: Thierry Alibert (RFL)