Teenager Riley Lumb scored two tries on his debut as Leeds Rhinos edged to a nervy win over Hull.
Morgan Smith’s score gave Hull an early lead, but a double from 19-year-old Lumb put Leeds 12-6 up at the break.
Cam Smith extended the Rhinos’ advantage, but Lewis Martin hit back immediately as Leeds took a six-point lead into the final quarter.
Hull pounded away at the visitors’ line, forcing a series of errors, but Rohan Smith’s side hung on to secure a fourth straight win at the MKM Stadium.
After an inconsistent start to the season which saw Leeds follow three wins from four with three defeats from the next four, a fifth victory of the season leaves the Rhinos in eighth, but within two points of third-placed Wigan.
For Hull, it was an eighth defeat from nine in Super League, which leaves them second-bottom.
But having shipped 50 points or more in four of their previous five games, this was a much more encouraging performance from a young side still searching for a head coach following Tony Smith’s exit.
After such a miserable start to the season, the omens did not look good when Hull surrendered possession straight from kick-off as Smith was bundled into touch.
But the stand-off gave Hull the rare luxury of an early lead when he was teed up by Jack Walker’s explosive break to run over unchallenged.
Lumb soon levelled in thrilling fashion, evading four Hull defenders with a slaloming run to cross for a dream score just 11 minutes into his first Super League start.
Luis Roberts’ acrobatic flying finish in the left corner was chalked off by the video referee for a leg in touch as the Rhinos threat grew
And they hit the front as Lumb’s fairytale bow continued when he got a hand to Brodie Croft’s grubber kick to send Leeds in ahead at the break despite an error-prone first half.
Walker dropped a high kick to gift Leeds dangerous field position and Croft took advantage with a 13th try assist of the season, his short pass allowing Smith to punch a hole through the middle for Leeds’ third try to make it 18-6.
Hull could have folded, but straightaway Leeds charitably coughed up an error of their own, spilling the kick-off catch into touch.
The Airlie Birds duly accepted their lifeline as Walker’s cut-out pass put Martin in at the right corner to cut the deficit to six.
Video referee Jack Smith intervened to strike off another Leeds score, from Matt Frawley, for Andy Ackers’ knock-on to keep Hull in touch.
Still in contention deep into the game – through a combination of good goal-line defence and Leeds’ handling errors, the hosts had the belief they have badly lacked this season.
Franklin Pele almost barged his way through, but a lack of cutting edge in attack, and spirited defence, saw the Rhinos home.