Hull won against a Fylde side that was top of the table before today’s game and justified the predictions of coach Gary Pearce who had forecast his side were good enough to turn recent narrow defeats into victories.
It could not have come in a more dramatic fashion as Hull came from an eight-point half-time deficit to lead by two points with 10 minutes to go and then hold firm as a very good Fylde side threw everything at them.
Hull started well and as early as the fourth minute fashioned a bit of space for their pacy winger Mike Adlard to open the scoring with an unconverted try in the fourth minute.
Hull’s pack were holding their own but Fylde were not table toppers for nothing and they began to take a measure of control as they scored a penalty goal through Smith after eight minutes quickly followed by a try by Connor converted by Smith after 11 minutes.
A further converted try by Rawlings after 16 minutes saw the gap opening up and Fylde may well have thought with a 17-5 advantage that they were on their way a comfortable five points haul.
Any such thoughts were to be short lived as Hull struck back through a try by their full back Steve McColl and when Reece Dean, Hull’s off half kicked the conversion, Hull were right back in it at 17-12 after 23 minutes.
A late Fylde penalty goal by Smith stretched their lead to 20-12 but the home crowd were uneasy as Hull had held Fylde’s fast moving backline and posed a threat themselves.
The second half saw Hull more then match Fylde and it came as no surprise when Dean kicked a penalty after 51 minutes to put Hull within five points of the home side.
Hull were growing in confidence and when Adlard found room to use his pace once again and sprint away for a try after 63 minutes which Dean converted Hull took the lead 22-20.
The final quarter saw Fylde frantically try to wrestle the game from Hull but they started to make mistakes and it was Hull who came nearest to scoring but they had a try disallowed for a knock on with five minutes remaining.
Hull defended well for the remaining minutes to inflict on Fylde their first home defeat of the season and ease themselves out of the bottom three with this a great all-round team performance.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 