Welcome to Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC, who are making their first-ever visit to our ground.
Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC were formed in 1877 and have a long and proud history but they only reached national level when they won the championship of North West One in 2016-17 after having an outstanding season. They will be quite satisfied with the way they have adapted to the higher level as they are ninth in the table, having won nine of their 24 games so far and amassed 52 points. They have posted six winning bonus points and their 10 losing bonus points is an indication of the tenacity they have shown in defeat.
In the fixture at Underley Park on March 17th we recorded a 42-12 victory in bitterly cold and windy conditions which both sides were to be complimented on by fulfilling the fixture. Last Saturday Kirkby Lonsdale recorded a fine 48-15 home win over Wirral. It is a pleasure to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC to our ground this afternoon.
LEAGUE ROUND-UP
Last Saturday our side made the long journey into Cumbria to take on Kendal RUFC, a side we have had some rare tussles with in previous seasons. The side put on a fine display to post a 33-7 win after leading 26-0 at the break with the bonus point secured before half time. Mike Adlard led the charge with a hat-trick of tries to take his tally to 22 in the season. Steve Hihetah scored his 32nd of the season and we also were awarded a penalty try. Fly-half Steve Johnson landed all four conversions to complete the scoring. The foundation of the win was, once again, Hull’s forward dominance who gave the Kendal pack a torrid time.
Elsewhere in the division Lymm did ourselves a very great favour by posting a 21-20 win at Harrogate which consolidated our chances of the play-off position, which, if we win today, will become a certainty. Ilkley had a real nail-biter at Stacks Field when they beat relegated Birkenhead Park by 17-16 and today’s visitors gave Wirral a hammering to the tune of 48-15. Relegated Pocklington were no match for visiting Billingham who ran amok to post a 53-10 victory; Morley were finally assured of the third relegation place when they travelled to Preston where the ‘Hoppers blitzed them by 57-3 and in a dour game at Rossendale, Sandal went down by 18-17. Three games being won by a single point.
All this has made absolutely no difference to the league standings
other than that Hull now are very much in pole position to take the play-off spot and if league placings stay as they are Hull will be at home to Peterborough Lions.
CLUB NEWS
Following our 41-0 win over Driffield in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup on Easter Monday, Hull will now face holders Harrogate in the final at Clifton Park, York, on April 25th. This could give the rugby committee a bit of a problem. Hull will play at Rossendale on April 21st, and if they are in the divisional play-off that will be on April 28th, which would be, yet again, three matches in seven days, with the last one certainly being the most important. Interesting days lie ahead!!
Today we welcome our former players for their annual lunch at the Ferens Ground when there is sure to be a lot of talk of days gone by. It is always a very happy and convivial occasion when ex-players get together and many yarns are spun. One player, who shall remain nameless, said to me last year, “The older I get, the better I was”, which just about sums it up for all of us.
Enjoy your afternoon chaps and appreciate what a fine set of men will take the field today to carry on what you all began. Thanks for the memories!!
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 