Last Saturday our side travelled into the Pennines to take on the very strong Rossendale side, not an easy game to start the new season with, and after a very close and well contested game which saw the lead change hands several times we lost by 29-28. We scored four tries to two and after watching the video of the game I think I could be forgiven for thinking that the best side lost. If Tom O’Donnell’s late try had been converted we would have won the game. It was lost, however, mainly by the amount of penalties we gave away which the Rossendale kicker took full advantage of, landing five penalty goals. This was the first opening game Hull have lost since the 2013-14 season.
Elsewhere in the division newly relegated Blaydon made a tremendous start with a 92-12 victory over newly promoted Vale of Lune who on this form could go the same way as Pocklington last season. Billingham beat visitors Lymm by 26-10 in a clash between two of last season’s leading sides and Ilkley had a comfortable 33-15 home win over Kendal. In the Yorkshire derby at Sandal the home side were beaten 22-18 by Harrogate and newly promoted Wilmslow were narrowly beaten at home by Kirkby Lonsdale by 24-21.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 