Last Saturday was catch-up week in the Northern Premier Division where four previously cancelled games were due to be played.
Unfortunately the games between Kirkby Lonsdale and ourselves, along with game between Rossendale and Billingham, again fell foul of the conditions and were not played.
In the games that went ahead Harrogate had a very difficult time against Morley, as we did ourselves on January 27th, before posting a 12-0 home win.
In the other game at Ilkley the Dalesmen did us a great favour by defeating second-placed Lymm by 21-3 which was a surprise to a lot of people.
Harrogate’s win took them to third in the table and ourselves to fourth, with both ‘Gate and Lymm on 66 points to our 65, but we now have a game in hand on both of them.
This weeks’ games throw up some interesting clashes and three to watch in terms of closeness of league placings are the following:
Ilkley v Wirral where eighth play sixth and a confident Ilkley side will take on a Wirral team eager to put their shock second half collapse at Sandal behind them. After beating Lymm the Dalesmen will really fancy their chances in this game.
Kendal v Morley where ninth play twelfth is a game which could go either way with Kendal always a tough nut to crack at Mint Bridge and a resurgent Morley picking up points against the middle and lower sides and causing a flutter among both the Hull and Harrogate supporters in their last two away game. Morley have a lot of ground to make up but maybe this game will go in their favour.
Finally, if the game goes ahead, I fancy that Rossendale v Harrogate could be the best of the day. Seventh-placed Ross have only played fifteen league games due to cancellations and will be looking to make up some ground whilst ‘Gate, who have won six and drawn one of their games on the road will be eager to hold onto that fourth spot in the table (for the time being anyway!!). Ross have won three and lost three games at home so far and are having a somewhat uncertain campaign by their high standards of last season.
I will go for three home wins but I could be wrong on two of them!!
CLUB NEWS
Supporters are reminded that our next home fixture will not be until March 24th when we entertain Birkenhead Park, with a 3-00pm kick-off. February 24th is a free day and will be used up to cover our postponed fixture at Kirkby Lonsdale. The 3rd and 10th of March will see us away to Wirral and Ilkley and the 17th of March will cover our postponed game at Lymm. The Yorkshire Cup semi-final at Driffield has still to be played at a date yet to be arranged. It is by no means an ideal situation but one that we have to face up to and make the best of.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The referee for today’s fixture is Mr.Owen Taylor who has travelled from Thorne to be with us today. I believe that this is his first visit to our club and we wish him welcome in the hope that he enjoys his afternoon with us.
NEXT HOME MATCH
Hull v Birkenhead Park
March 24th 2018
Kick-off 3-00pm
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 