Hull started their season with a 27-8 win over Luctonians at Chants Ave. The visitors did not make the most of their penalties and field position and eventually succumbed to Hull’s superior scrummaging.
Both sides were keen to run the ball and it was Hull’s winger Mike Adlard who twice threatened to break free when given room to move, but it was not until late in the first half that the stalemate was broken.
It took 38 minutes for Hull to fashion a score which came from a catch and drive lineout with Hull’s hooker Ali Thompson going over for an unconverted try. Moments later Hull secured good field position as the forwards drove deep into Luctonians half and when the ball was moved left Mike Adlard outpaced the defence to score under the posts for a try converted by Hull’s off half Simon Humberstone giving Hull a halftime advantage of 12-0.
The second half saw Hull fail to make the best use of some promising situations and it was the visitors who worked their way back into the game. After 53 minutes, Luctonians substitute centre Will Bryan kicked a penalty and after 67 minutes, their back row man charged over for an unconverted try after Hull’s Mike Dias was yellow carded, to close the gap to four points.
Hull then produced a grandstand finale with their scrum becoming completely dominant as they welcomed back Dias. A Simon Humberstone penalty after 71 minutes was followed by another Adlard unconverted try after 79 minutes as Hull moved the ball through the hands to good effect.
With time running out, Hull’s scrummaging produced another penalty and from the ensuing lineout, Hull’s efficient catch and drive saw Thompson score his second try with Humberstone’s conversion seeing Hull home comfortable winners 27-8.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 