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Sat 04 Nov 2017 ·  Northern Premier
Hull
1st XV
42
7
Tries: J ReeveConversions: J AnnettsYellow Carded: J Yarker
Wirral Undone by Pacy Winger
Andrew Broadbent5 Nov 2017 - 13:59
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Hull prove too much for Wirral at the far end of the M62.
For the long away trip to Hull where we set off in teeming rain and 12 hours later came back and it was still raining but at least the weather in Hull was dry. There were a number of changes to the side that played last week, with MARK WILLIAMS still nursing a swollen ankle being replaced by CHRIS SPEED, who then broke down in pre match warm up and was replaced on the wing by SIMON FLAVELL. Chris went onto the bench to be used in an emergency but was not required. JAMIE THOMPSON pulled out through illness and with KEITH MAHON not available due to work commitments the back row was JAMES REEVE, CHRIS BURROWS and ROBERT PEARL. The other 2 subs were CHRIS HUGHES and RYAN STEAD.
Wirral played with the wind in the first half and for the first 20 minutes play was contained between the two 20m areas with Wirral having a penalty opportunity from 39m with JAMES ANNETTS’ attempt hitting the upright and going dead. On 21 minutes a kick downfield by Hull just failed to find touch some 20m out but gave Hull territory in the Wirral half for the first time.
A wrong call at the line out gave Hull the ball some 30m out and they capitalised on this with a half break and good backing up led to wing forward, Zakery Poole scoring in the corner, the conversion was missed. 5-0 (24 minutes). 7 minutes later a long kick downfield was misfielded by Wirral and gave the home side possession in the 20m area, a short kick over the Wirral defence appeared to be knocked on by Hull but the referee allowed the Hull winger, Michael Adlard to pick up and run 20m unopposed to score under the posts and converted by Steve Johnson. 12-0 (32 minutes). Throughout the half the referee was having difficulty with the scrums as the Hull prop was dragging down JACK YARKER but in the two minutes before half time Jack was sin binned.
The second half started with Wirral playing with more determination and 2 minutes into the half the Hull fly half was then sin binned for a late tackle. At the next scrum, CHRIS HUGHES came on with CHRIS BURROWS being sacrificed. The referee then recalled both sin binned players to the field at the same time; one had served at least 12 minutes the other 8!! CHRIS BURROWS returned to the affray.
On 52 minutes a long kick downfield by Wirral just failed to find touch on the Hull 20m line, it was picked up by Adlard who beat the immediate defender and went on a 70m run which saw him run down the middle of the park evading the Wirral tacklers to score under the posts and giving the fly half an easy conversion. On 55 minutes, the Hull prop was finally pinged by the referee and spent 10 minutes on the side lines. Hull were able to maintain pressure on Wirral by greater utilisation of the wind and with Wirral having difficulty in breaking out of defence, they were forced to pass and one of these was intercepted by the Hull No 8 Joe Stafford, who had a clear run in from 20m to score and give Hull the all-important try bonus point. 24-0 (57 minutes).
Gradually Wirral worked their way downfield and a penalty gave them a 10m line out, which they won and mauled their way to the try line, the maul was collapsed by Hull but no reaction from the referee. A further 5 m scrum enabled Wirral to push forward over the whitewash and JAMES REEVE was credited with the touchdown and duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. RYAN STEAD came on for PAUL LEWIS.
67 minutes a penalty to Hull from 22m was converted and this was followed by another kick from Wirral not finding touch which resulted in Adlard advancing forward and exchanging passes with full back, Lee Birch to run in from 30m and score under the posts and duly converted. Another penalty pushed the score out to 37-7. With virtually the last play of the game, a cross kick to the right wing saw Adlard juggle with the ball to avoid it going into touch and still control his run to score in the corner.
The Hull side certainly had the run of the ball and benefitted from the various decisions made by the referee but this should not take anything away from the solid defence in the middle of the field where Wirral had difficulty in making progress. Next Saturday, Wirral are at home to Birkenhead Park for the Wirral derby with the kick off at 2.15pm.
Richard McNeil
Wirral played with the wind in the first half and for the first 20 minutes play was contained between the two 20m areas with Wirral having a penalty opportunity from 39m with JAMES ANNETTS’ attempt hitting the upright and going dead. On 21 minutes a kick downfield by Hull just failed to find touch some 20m out but gave Hull territory in the Wirral half for the first time.
A wrong call at the line out gave Hull the ball some 30m out and they capitalised on this with a half break and good backing up led to wing forward, Zakery Poole scoring in the corner, the conversion was missed. 5-0 (24 minutes). 7 minutes later a long kick downfield was misfielded by Wirral and gave the home side possession in the 20m area, a short kick over the Wirral defence appeared to be knocked on by Hull but the referee allowed the Hull winger, Michael Adlard to pick up and run 20m unopposed to score under the posts and converted by Steve Johnson. 12-0 (32 minutes). Throughout the half the referee was having difficulty with the scrums as the Hull prop was dragging down JACK YARKER but in the two minutes before half time Jack was sin binned.
The second half started with Wirral playing with more determination and 2 minutes into the half the Hull fly half was then sin binned for a late tackle. At the next scrum, CHRIS HUGHES came on with CHRIS BURROWS being sacrificed. The referee then recalled both sin binned players to the field at the same time; one had served at least 12 minutes the other 8!! CHRIS BURROWS returned to the affray.
On 52 minutes a long kick downfield by Wirral just failed to find touch on the Hull 20m line, it was picked up by Adlard who beat the immediate defender and went on a 70m run which saw him run down the middle of the park evading the Wirral tacklers to score under the posts and giving the fly half an easy conversion. On 55 minutes, the Hull prop was finally pinged by the referee and spent 10 minutes on the side lines. Hull were able to maintain pressure on Wirral by greater utilisation of the wind and with Wirral having difficulty in breaking out of defence, they were forced to pass and one of these was intercepted by the Hull No 8 Joe Stafford, who had a clear run in from 20m to score and give Hull the all-important try bonus point. 24-0 (57 minutes).
Gradually Wirral worked their way downfield and a penalty gave them a 10m line out, which they won and mauled their way to the try line, the maul was collapsed by Hull but no reaction from the referee. A further 5 m scrum enabled Wirral to push forward over the whitewash and JAMES REEVE was credited with the touchdown and duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. RYAN STEAD came on for PAUL LEWIS.
67 minutes a penalty to Hull from 22m was converted and this was followed by another kick from Wirral not finding touch which resulted in Adlard advancing forward and exchanging passes with full back, Lee Birch to run in from 30m and score under the posts and duly converted. Another penalty pushed the score out to 37-7. With virtually the last play of the game, a cross kick to the right wing saw Adlard juggle with the ball to avoid it going into touch and still control his run to score in the corner.
The Hull side certainly had the run of the ball and benefitted from the various decisions made by the referee but this should not take anything away from the solid defence in the middle of the field where Wirral had difficulty in making progress. Next Saturday, Wirral are at home to Birkenhead Park for the Wirral derby with the kick off at 2.15pm.
Richard McNeil
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