Hull over came a good start by their visitors from the north east to record another maximum points victory and establish a nine-point gap between themselves and the chasing pack with just one game left before the Christmas break.
Coach Gary Pearce praised his side’s agessive defence and all round enthusiasm from all eighteen players but picked out scrum half Harvey Harding for his all round game in attack and defence.
Hull were on the back foot for the first ten minutes as Billingham kept possession well but were unable to breach Hull ‘s solid defensive wall.
Hull were on the back foot for the first ten minutes as Billingham kept possession well but were unable to breach Hull ‘s solid defensive wall.
Hull worked themselves back into the game and when Mike Adlard kicked and chased from fifty yards and amlost score the alarm bells must have been sounding in Billingham’s ears.
Just two minutes later Hull ran the ball from deep in their own half and when Stephen Hihetah was halted ten yards out Hull kept control of the ball for scrum half Harvey Harding to score Hull’s first try as he took a couple of defenders with him in the act of scoring near the posts . Simon Humberston converted with ease.
Five minutes later Hull were back on the visitors line and prop Ben Bootham picked up five yards out and strolled in unopposed under the post with Simon Humberston adding the goal.
Hull then had a momentary lapse as Billingham took advantage of good field position . Their scrum half Connor Fewston took a quick tap penalty to scamper over for a try converted by his centre Luke Wilson.
Hull then mounted an attack of their own with half time approaching and centre Tomarsi Tanumi jinked his way into space before putting in back row forward Tom O’Donnell for Hull’s third try .Simon Humberston’s conversion giving Hull a 21 7 halftime lead.
Billingham hopes of getting back into the game were effectively ended after forty six minutes when Hull moved the ball to their left inside the visitors twenty two metre area for winger Steve Hihetah to crash over wide out with Simon Humberston converting.
A few minutes later Steve Hihetah was there again crashing over from ten yards out with Simon Humberston converting.
With the result now beyond doubt Hull turned the screw with two further converted tries. Tom O’Donnell getting his second try after good backing up and then as the final whistle approached winger Mike Adlard kicked and chased sixty yards to outpace everyone for Hull’s final try converted by centre Steve Johnson.
This result shows Hulls intent and must send out a message to the whole league that they are really serious promotion contenders.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 