Hull and Pocklington will play in a Christmas time East Yorkshire derby in rugby unions National three league this Saturday.
Hull sit third in the league whilst Pocklington are next to last, but that will not count for anything in the early exchanges on Saturday.
The game will be quite an attraction to local rugby fans as not only are the teams based just twenty miles apart but Hull’s coach Gary Pearce spent some happy years as Pocklington coach and still has good friends at the club.
This season Hull’s first away game at Pocklington saw them struggle for over an hour against a resolute defence and they only pulled away to ensure victory in the last 15 minutes.
Pocklington have found the step up in class hard but they have had some close results and will give Hull no respite especially if the home side do not control their first phase ball.
Hull will be able to select from a full squad having had a free Saturday last week because of the weather leaving them virtually injury free.
The pack will include prop Mike Jobling who would have been making his 100th appearance for the club had last week’s game at Kirkby Lonsdale not been postponed.
His versatility has seen him play at hooker and prop where he has shown up well in the tight phases but he also has good hands and some pace as he shown on many occasions.
Hull go into this game knowing that their recent run of games where they have achieved maximum points needs to continue to keep up the pressure on the league’s leading two teams, Preston and Lymm.
If their forwards can create a platform through good first-phase possession and ball retention then there is enough flair and try scoring ability to achieve that aim.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 