In depth- Hull FC vs London Broncos (Super League Round 3)

Hull FC vs London Broncos is a fixture which is the 5^th most frequent in the Broncos history, with 43 matches taking place between 1981 to present. Out of these 43 matches, the Broncos have won 16, lost 24 and drawn 3. In this time, the Broncos have accumulated a -226 points difference, scoring 780 points and conceding 1,006.

The first matchup between Hull FC and London took place on the 13^th of September 1981 at the Boulevard Stadium (Hull FC’s stadium between 1895-2002) which resulted in a Hull FC victory vs Fulham RLFC, 21-5, in front of an audience of 16,059. Hull FC have taken on London in all their forms (Fulham RLFC, Harlequins RL, and the London Broncos) and have played in various stadiums across the UK including Craven Cottage, the Crystal Palace Sports Centre, the Stoop, The Valley, Murrayfield, and Ealing Trailfinders.

London’s biggest win against Hull came on the 20^th of June 1999 with a 47-6 victory at the Boulevard Stadium in front of a crowd of 3,833. Hull’s biggest victory against London came on March the 21^st 2004, with a 46-4 win at the KC Stadium in front of a crowd of 9,040.

Looking back through the years of the Broncos playing against Hull FC, this matchup shall be a stiff challenge for London. The last time that London came away with a victory vs Hull FC was on May 1^st, 2010, at Murrayfield in front of a 26,642 crowd. Ever since then, Hull FC have walked away from this fixture as victors on 10 of the last 11 games, with an 18-18 draw on March 23^rd, 2013 at the Stoop. The Broncos last beat Hull FC at Hull’s home ground on February 17^th, 2008, when Harlequins RL left the KC (now MKM) Stadium 24-6 victors.  

Hull FC Breakdown

Hull FC is one of the oldest clubs in Rugby League and was formed by a group of ex-public schoolboys from York in 1865. Following a succession of grounds and headquarters, the club moved into the Hull Athletic Club’s ground at the Boulevard. Their first game came September 1895, when a record crowd of 8,000 witnessed the ‘Airlie Birds’ defeat Liversedge in the very first season of Northern Union Football.

Hull FC’s first taste of silverwear came in the form of a challenge cup in 1914 after beating Wakefield Trinity 6-0, followed by 2 championships in 1920 & 1921. Hull FC’s latest trophy winning victory came in 2017 as they defeated Wigan Warriors 18-14 at Wembley.

Honours:

RFL Championship: 1920, 1921, 1936, 1956, 1958, 1983.

Challenge Cup: 1914, 1982, 2005, 2016, 2017.