Injuries mar Hull romp

A first win in four games for Richard Agar's Hull will be little consolation to the coach, after he watched three more players pick up injuries ahead of the Challenge Cup final in the 26-6 defeat of Harlequins.

Agar saw the returning Todd Byrne and Motu Tony crocked after Matt Sing withdrew after pulling a quad muscle in the warm-up as their injury crisis deepened just a week before the clash with St Helens.

The trio join Garreth Carvell, Adam Dykes, Richard Horne and Paul King on the sidelines, marring a strong performance against a Quins side seeing their play-off hopes fading fast.

Brian McDermott's side failed miserably in all departments and created hardly any noteworthy chances as the hosts went into the break 14-0 up thanks to tries from Ewan Dowes and Tony.

Excellent breaks

Dowes crossed from close range after nine minutes to score his first try in 89 games while Tony's effort came at the end of the half after Ricky Sheriffe fumbled Danny Houghton's chip kick.

In between times there was little for the crowd to shout about barring a couple of excellent breaks from Hull's Willie Manu, one of which ended with Lee Radford carelessly spilling the ball after a 60-metre break from the Tongan, while Danny Tickle slotted a penalty to add to Hull's lead.

Byrne, back after two months out with a knee injury, limped off just after the interval, and moments later Scott Hill squandered a great chance to increase the advantage when he lost possession trying to squeeze over.

Tony, in just his second game following an injury lay-off, was carried off following a regulation tackle meaning Byrne was forced back into the fray.

Graeme Horne did manage to extend the lead on the hour, swooping on Danny Washbrook's neat ball, before Byrne finally cried enough.

Tickle missed his first kick of the night but it mattered not as Kirk Yeaman barged over for the fourth try - Chris Melling earning Quins a consolation score after gathering a pass from David Howell.