Hull embark on a vital period of their season in the weeks leading up to Christmas with games against Harrogate, Sandal and Billingham in quick succession. All three of these clubs will be hoping to be in the running for promotion come the end of the season.
First up is the tricky home fixture against Harrogate this Saturday. The visitors have had a mixed season having lost narrowly to Billingham and Blaydon as well as losing to Kirby Lonsdale and then more recently to Alnwick.
Such mixed form suggest some injury problems so Hull cannot take the form guide as anything other than a potentially misleading pointer as to what to expect this week.
Harrogate are a club with ambition and they will be be looking to record a victory this week to get their own promotion push back on track.
Hull have been able to field strong sides for quite a while now and even without the suspended Mike Jobling they have good cover in the front row.
In the backs Joey Martin and Steve Johnson are likely to come back into contention after their injury problems to further bolster Hull’s resources.
This game is very important for Hull and one focus will be on discipline as a side like Harrogate will be likely to take advantage of any numerical advantage if Hull concede yellow cards as they did last week.
An immaculate kicking display last week by Hull’s off-half Simon Humberston would be welcome against Harrogate but the forward battle may well hold the key.
Victory this Saturday would be a real boost for Hull in the first of these three difficult but winnable fixtures before the Christmas break.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 