Another Challenge Cup third round game, which looked like a one-sided affair, saw amateurs York Acorn against Super League opposition in the form of the Black & Whites of Hull FC.
The bookies had given the Airlie Birds a sixty-eight-point handicap on the coupon, forecasting one-way traffic to keep the hoards of FC fans who had made the journey to Post Office Road in Featherstone to cheer on their side.
Hull FC gave seven debuts, but this was the easiest of first games that was possible for the FC new men as they edge towards the start of the Super League season.
It took seven minutes for Hull FC to get the scoreboard moving as Ryan Westerman was the creator for winger Lewis Martin to cross in the left-hand corner. Westerman added the conversion to give his side a 6-0 lead.
York Acorn struck back on fourteen after a Matt Chilton grubber kick evaded the Hull defenders with Jordan Byners taking the ball and crossing. The conversion was added by Chilton to level the scores, the home supporters in a frenzy. Hull FC had a game on their hands.
On twenty-four Lewis Martin made a break and offloaded under the tackle to Cade Cust who accelerated away to go forty metres and score under the sticks to give Westerman a simple conversion for 12-6.
Oliver Holmes spilled the ball over the line on the half-hour mark as York Acorn started to tire.
Five minutes from the interval, John Asiata scored a tremendous try as he dummied, weaved past the Acorn tackler, and went over under the sticks from fifteen metres out. Westerman made it three from three for 18-6, FC pulling away as half-time beckoned.
A loose ball caused confusion in the York defence with Denive Balmforth taking full advantage and picking up the loose ball to go in for try number four with seconds of the half remaining. Westerman added a fourth conversion for 24-6.
Confusion in the Acorn defence, a hack at the Cust kick from Shepherdson, allowed Martin to collect and score in the corner. Westerman was unable to add the conversion from wide but Hull with a 28-6 lead.
The sixth FC try came from Lloyd Kemp on forty-eight as he stepped his way through the defence. Westerman added the conversion for 34-6.
Martin got his third try of the afternoon with Westerman again the provider of the final ball, the left wing proving a fruitful hunting ground for the Super League side. Westerman added the conversion, six from seven on the afternoon, to bring up forty points.
A long range try from Harvey Barron was the perfect kick-off response with a sixty metre try as he outpaced the chasing defenders. Westerman added another conversion and FC were running away with the scoreline.
A strong carry from Barron saw him get his second of the game and bring up fifty for the visitors. Westerman added the conversion as the game entered its last ten minutes.
After a competitive first half, during which York Acorn held their own for long periods, the Super League side broke loose in the second half to record an easy win on the back on nine tries to make progress into the fourth-round draw.
York Acorn: Speck, Husband, Shepherdson, Caple, Byworth, Prescott, Bulmer, Hunt, Kirk, Byrnes (T), Hyde, Parker, Thompson. Subs: Chilton (G 1/1), Conroy, Hammerton, Gallacher. 18th Man: .
Hull FC: Moy, Ward, Barron (2T), Westerman (G 8/9), Martin (3T), Kemp (T), Cust (T), Ashworth, Balmforth (T), Audin, Fash, Holmes, Asiata (T). Subs: Gardiner, Salabio, Kirby, Hutchinson. 18th Man: Clark.
Half-Time: 6-24.
Full-Time: 6-52.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12, 6-16, 6-18, 6-22, 6-24 : HT: 6-28, 6-32, 6-34, 6-38, 6-40, 6-44, 6-46, 6-50, 6-52 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Hull FC -Square - Hull FC.
Referee: .
