London Broncos end wait for Super League win as they defeat Hull FC at Plough Lane

London Broncos halted a 10-game winless run in the Super League on Sunday as they defeated Hull FC 34-18 at Plough Lane.

Alex Walker, Robbie Storey, Jamie Meadows, Jarred Bassett, Lee Kershaw and Oli Leyland scored the hosts’ five tries. Leyland also kicked five goals.

Broncos are still at the foot of the table but are now level on points with their opponents last weekend.

The South London-based club do not play again until their home match against Hull KR on May 26.

“To get that (first victory) is huge,” said Broncos head coach Mike Eccles. “I won’t give you the cliches that it is just another game – it is a massive, massive win for everyone at the club.

“There has always been effort. That hasn’t changed. You look at Ethan Natoli out there – he is phenomenal.

“We got a message he might’ve pulled his calf. The tackle he makes right at the end, we have already won the game and he epitomises that side of us. It was a real Broncos’ performance today. We moved the ball and did what we had to do.

“You can have as much grit and resilience as you want but if you are getting undone on one specific play and you’re behind your sticks it is tough. That is not grit and resilience, that is someone has made a wrong read on a play or we’ve not got enough heat underneath the ball on a shape.

“It’s never been an effort or intensity thing, at all.”

Broncos lost captain Will Lovell for the whole of the second half due to a head injury after a heavy collision with Hull’s Franklin Pele.

“We had to dig in,” said Eccles. “We felt we had taken a lot out of their tank (in the first half) even though we didn’t have great territory and that we could be a bit more direct in the second half around their big fellas, with the subs we had.

“But then losing Will, five seconds in, you are back down to four subs with 40 minutes to go.

“His leadership is obviously huge for us but Sadiq Adebiyi was brilliant for us in that right-back role. The lads needed that little bit more resolve – to do it without the captain and with a sub down.

“I had every confidence we could bring it home but it was just a little bit tougher without Will.

“I don’t think we’ve proved anyone wrong (who said Broncos would not win a game) – we’ve taken an absolute hiding in some games and we’re still massively low on Super League appearances.

“I’m not bothered with what anyone thinks because nobody really knows what we are going through and have been through since we got promoted. I’m bothered about us putting our best foot forward.”