Hull coach Gary Pearce was as pleased that his side kept a clean sheet against lowly placed Wilmslow as he was with the 50 points they scored. Hull’s maximum points haul and losses by Billingham and Harrogate strengthened their position at the top of the league.
Wilmslow kicked off and after missing an early penalty attempt could do nothing to prevent Hull scoring their first try as full back Lee Birch broke clear before chipping ahead allowing winger Mike Adlard to outpace the defence for a try after five minutes, which was well converted by off-half Stephen Johnson.
Just four minutes later Hull made full use of a catch and drive from a lineout and having retained the ball the Liam Regardsoe helped prop Michael Dias to power his way over for Hull’s second try converted by Stephen Johnson.
It took Hull no time at all to score their third try when their forwards made good ground from a lineout before releasing the ball with slick handling seeing winger Adlard stroll over unopposed for another try converted by Stephen Johnson.
Wilmslow then tightened their defence and began to apply some pressure to the Hull line but despite a Hull yellow card for persistent offside they were unable to get on the scoreboard.
Hull regrouped and as half-time approached, a text book catch and drive saw hooker Tom Price get the touchdown for a try securing Hull’s bonus point. Stephen Johnson’s conversion seeing Hull in complete control, leading 28-0 at half-time.
The second half had hardly begun when Hull’s prop Don Hardman powered his way 50 yards to be just short of Wilmslow’s try line.
Hull kept up the intensity and moments later were awarded a penalty try.
With Hull dominating the set piece Wilmslow had prop Lewis yellow carded.
However at this piont Hull seemed to lose concentration for a few minutes. Having lost a couple of lineouts and kicked away possession they re-established their dominance when winger Adlard scored his third try after 70 minutes when he kicked ahead from the halfway line gathering the ball to outpace a tiring defence.
The last 10 minutes saw Hull score two further tries. Joe Stafford rounded off a sweeping move plunging over after 77 minutes. The final try was well worked from a lineout five yards from Wilmslow’s line when the ball was caught and switched back to the blind side for hooker Rice to touch down in the corner seeing Hull keeping up their long winning sequence with a 50-0 victory.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 