One 7/10, mainly 5s in Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from dismal loss at Hull FC

For the second successive game, Rhinos led at the break, but failed to score - or even threaten to do so - in the second period. Though they did well to hit back after trailing by 12 points in the opening quarter, Leeds weren’t in control at any stage.

Both their tries came off kicks and they couldn’t break down Hull’s spirited defence. Unforgivably, Rhinos were penalised three times for dissent, all when they had a captain’s challenge up their sleeve.

There were, again, some poor errors and, apart from the two tries, their kicking game didn’t test Hull either. This was a bad result for a team virtually at full strength. Injuries will come so they can’t afford to be dropping points, to average opposition, when everyone’s fit.

Leeds tend to struggle in games they are expected to win and this was a classic example. The opening quarter was a disaster for Leeds who took an early lead and then seemed determined to shoot themselves in the foot at every opportunity. Rhinos took a captain’s challenge after just three minutes when referee Liam Moore ruled Chris Hankinson - in for Ryan Hall - had knocked on.

Video assistant Chris Kendall spotted a ball steal by Amir Bourouh; Rhinos received a set-restart, then another penalty and Jake Connor took the two. The lead was short lived as Jake Arthur, son of the Rhinos coach, supported James Bell’s break to race over for the host’s opening try and Zak Hardaker added the extras.

Bad went to worse when Lachie Miller kicked the restart dead - something he does too often - to concede a penalty on half-way. Hull got a six-again late in the tackle count and Ligi Sao powered over from close-range off acting-half Bourouh’s pass and Hardaker’s kick made it 12-2.

Leeds survived another penalty, but as soon as they got the ball back Maika Sivo was adjudged to have not played the ball correctly, Rhinos complained and Moore penalised them for dissent, gifting Hardaker another two points. The visitors looked rattled defensively and lacking ideas with the ball, when they finally got it, but managed to claw their way back into the game through a brilliant improvised try after 26 minutes.

Cameron Smith, Connor, Ash Handley and Sivo handled on the last, the ball eventually worked its way to Miller and he put in a superb kick which James McDonnell ran on to. Connor converted and McDonnell almost scored again moments later, but was held up by Cade Cust.

Leeds’ second try was similar in execution to the first, this time Handley kicking and Croft touching down. Connor’s third goal levelled the scores and he booted a penalty a couple of minutes before the interval, after Cust’s high tackle on Hankinson, to send his side in 16-14 ahead.

Hull levelled in similar fashion on 42 minutes when Sivo was penalised in possession for shoving the marker at a play-the-ball and Hardaker kicked the goal. Moore had been booed off the field at the break, but was cheered by the Hull fans when he awarded their side back-to-back set restarts, turned the second of those into a penalty and Hardaker landed another kick to put Hull ahead.

The lead was out to eight points on 52 minutes when John Asiata kicked over Leeds’ line, Davy Litten touched down and Hardaker converted.Rhinos had an escape when Brad Fash touched down and Moore awarded the try, but video official Kendall spotted a knock on in his review and it was chalked off.

Leeds still had 15 minutes to pull the game from the fire, but never looked capable. With four minutes left Connor hit a post with a penalty when attempting to cut the gap to six.The penalties finished nine-eight in the hosts’ favour (five-three to Rhinos in the first half). Leeds received seven set-restarts to Hull’s four (four-one to the visitors before the break).

Hull FC: Hardaker, Briscoe, Litten, Romano, Martin, Arthur, Cust, Hill, Borough, Sao, Bell, Bailey, Asiata. Subs Lisone, Fash, Laidlaw, Kemp.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hankinson, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Levi, Palasia, Watkins, McDonnell, C Smith. Subs O’Connor, Holroyd, Jenkins, Bird

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan). Attendance: 12,871.