A stunning start by Hull in this Northern Premier Division encounter saw Hull achieve the four tries needed for their bonus point within the first 10 minutes.
Hull were immediately in total command in a first half that saw then 43-0 ahead at half-time.
From the kick-off it seemed Hull might lose the ball but having retrieved it they moved the ball with precision and when backrow man Cameron Curry burst clear from a ruck the visitors defence was wide open and a couple of quick passes saw winger Mike Adlard completely clear to stroll over unopposed for Hull’s first try.
Four minutes later Hull made the most of a penalty award and after winning the ensuing lineout flanker Zak Poole made good ground before sending in the pacy Adlard for his second try. Steve Johnson converted to see Hull twelve points to the good with just five minutes played.
From the kick off second rower Paul Hamber took a great catch and it wasn’t long before the ball arrived with full back Lee Birch and his initial break was followed by a trade mark burst from winger Steve Hihetah who laid the ball off for Poole to score another Hull try converted by Johnson after eight minutes.
Straight from the kick-off Hull secured possession and when Hihetah received the ball on the half way line he shrugged off a couple of tackles on his way to dramatic try in the 10th minute which secured Hull’s bonus point at a very early stage in the game. Johnson’s good conversion giving Hull a 26-0 lead.
Hull were creating chances every couple of minutes but an interception and a dropped pass thwarted two golden opportunities but when Hull won a line-out 30 yards from the Birkenhead line Mike Jobling, Hull’s ball-handling prop made a clean break and handed the ball on to backrow man Curry to crash over in the 28th minute.
Hull were all but unstoppable and two brilliant solo tries by full back Birch and scrum-half Harvey Harding, one of which Johnson converted, saw Hull lead by 43-0 at the interval.
The second half saw Hull start where the left off in the first period with Hihetah scoring a try after 48 minutes.
Hull then had a period where they were less precise and a couple of line-outs lost on their own throw saw the momentum swing briefly to the visitors.
Birkenhead scored two tries in quick succession through their number eight Ollie mabbutt and winger Adam Wellington with substitute off half Simon Mason kicking one conversion.
In the final minutes Hull roused themselves again and Hihetah surged over to complete his hat-trick and Harding rounded off good forward work to score Hull’s tenth try.
Stephen johnson’s conversion giving Hull a substantial 60-12 margin of victory and retain second place in the league.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 