Match Report: (H) Wirral W 38-5

Hull ‘s dominant first half display against third placed Wirral gave Hull’s coach Gary Pearce great satisfaction as he pointed to an almost error free period of thirty five minutes in the first half when Hull took complete control of the game after Wirral’s early score to earn a bonus point before the break and close the gap on their promotion rivals to two points .
Wirral were lively enough in the first few minutes as they secured possession and swept over the Hull line with their centre Dan Harvey scoring an unconverted try after just three minutes.
Hull responded well and despite spurning an easy penalty chance in front of the posts after 10 minutes and then seeing a try scoring chance go begging after a fifty yard break by Lee Birch and Stephen Hihetah, they made no mistake when following a thirty yard burst by centre Joe Martin Hull maintained possession to allow prop Mike Jobling to batter his way over near the fifteen yard line for the home side’s first try, well converted by off half Tomasi Tanumi.
This heralded a points flurry by Hull that all but settled the game before half time.Almost from the Wirral kick off Hull worked the ball to centre Joe Martin who once again broke the Wirral line to enable his full back Lee Birch to beat off a couple of Wirral defenders before touching down near the corner flag .Tomasi Tanumi’s excellent conversion seeing Hull 14-5 ahead after just twenty three minutes.
Hull’s pressure was relentless and just six minutes had elapsed before they scores again when centre Alex heard broke through Wirral’s already wilting defences to to score an unconverted try near the corner flag.So complete was Hull’s control at this stage that it was surprising that it took them another nine minutes to score their next try . A couple of good catch and drives were held up on the Wirral line before good work by the forwards enabled second row man Stuart Nell to plunge over near the posts for Hull’s fourth and bonus point try.Tomasi Tanumi’s conversion seeing Hull almost out of the visitors reach at 28-5 at halftime.
Wirral started the second period full of purpose but it was Hull who still looked the more likely to score and so it proved when after fifty five minutes good handling and backing up saw full back Lee Birch once again in a position to force his way over for Hull’s fifth try.Tomasi Tanumi missed the conversion .
Injuries to both Hull’s second row men and winger Stephen Hihetah saw the forward substitutes Lee Brown, and Dominic Hardman and back sub Chris Harding play their full part in Hull holding firm in defence for the remaining twenty five minutes. Having snuffed out any chance of a second Wirral score Hull then scored a wonderful late try when substitute off half Chris Harding danced his way round half a dozen would be tacklers to give winger Andy Smith the chance to race fifty yards to score a try under the posts. Tomasi Tanumis conversion sealed a memorable 38-5 victory for Hull and made plain their intent to move further up the league.