Hull forward Tom O’Donnell admits he had been waiting for the Hull derby for four years. So to help the team to a 22-16 win was all the more special for the flanker. A former Ionians player, O’Donnell left the club in 2017 and many of his team-mates with links to I’s in the past, he relished the derby more than others. O’Donnell was crucial in helping the forwards to set the platform for victory at Brantingham Park last Saturday.
“I was looking forward to that game for about four years,” O’Donnell said.
“It’s a massive win for us and it couldn’t have gone any better, really.
“We had been going well before the derby and with a number of games called off this weekend, we have gone top of the league.
“We can’t ask for anything better than that. What a great Christmas it’s going to be.
“I thought the game was going to better for us.
“After the first half, I thought we’d smash this, but after dominating the first half, we let them back in it in the second half.
“Our set pieces lost a bit of momentum and a few players who were carrying a few knocks going into the game, felt those injuries.”
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