Two tries for Cust as new-look Hull FC beat Catalans

Betfred Super League

Catalans (0) 4

Tries: Mourgue

Hull FC (18) 24

Tries: Lane, Cust 2, Briscoe Goals: Sezer 4

A superb first-half display from Hull FC helped them to a 24-4 season-opening victory at Catalans Dragons.

Tries from Jordan Lane, Tom Briscoe and two from Cade Cust on his Super League debut for the club allowed the visitors to take a comfortable two points from their season opener.

New captain Aidan Sezer kicked four goals for Hull in an assured debut.

A second-half try from Arthur Mourgue proved mere consolation for the hosts, who failed to break down a stubborn defence despite enjoying a bright start to the game.

Cade Cust scored his first tries for Hull FC since arriving from Salford Red Devils

After weathering an early storm of pressure, a good grubber kick from Sezer ricocheted into the path of Lane, who dived over to score on his 150th appearance for the black and whites.

The hosts thought they had got on the scoreboard soon after but ex-St Helens winger Tommy Makinson knocked the ball on in the corner under pressure from scrambling defence by Hull.

Moments later, Hull made their hosts pay for their missed opportunity when Lewis Martin raced down the left and found Cust, who moved back outside to dive over for his first try for the club since arriving from Salford in the close season.

A devastating breakaway from Sezer, who collected the ball off a Catalan hand, then set up Briscoe and the centre had the simplest of tasks to dot down to give the visitors an 18-point lead at half-time.

Four minutes into the second-half, a kick over the top from Makinson allowed Mourgue to dot down the hosts' only points of the night.

But Cust raced away for a superb second try following an interception from a Luke Keary pass to take the match out of Catalans' grasp once and for all.

Sezer slotted a penalty kick to add gloss to Hull's victory as John Cartwright's first Super League match in charge of the club ended in victory.

Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara:

"We're clearly disappointed, I thought we started the game strongly but we got taught a lesson in how to fight and scrap for points.

"We should have scored points early on but Hull defended really well and worked hard in goal but at this stage of the season you have to score those opportunities.

"You win or lose games at this stage of the season in those areas."

Hull FC boss John Cartwright:

"I'm really excited for the players after a performance and a result like that. We've had a tough time of it recently as a club, coming off a rough few seasons, but we didn't show that tonight.

"We're a pretty new mix as a side and we came here tonight not knowing really what to expect, we prepared well and we knew we would compete.

"We probably exceeded what I thought we could do, especially in defence where I thought we were really strong."

Catalans: Mourgue; Makinson, Sironen, Romano, Cotric; Rouge, Keary; Navarrete, Garcia, Satae, Sims, Whitehead, Partington.

Interchanges: Pangai Jr, Bousquet, Da Costa, Seguier.

Hull FC: Rapana; Barron, Hardaker, Briscoe, Martin; Cust, Sezer; Ese'ese, Bourouh, Aydin, Cartwright, Lane, Asiata.

Interchanges: Sao, Ashworth, Fash, Balmforth.

Referee: Chris Kendall.