Hull have another very tough fixture this weekend as they entertain the side that has replaced Rotherham as their nearest challengers. The gap between Hull and Sedgley has narrowed as the Manchester side played their game in hand last week which saw then amass 80 points against Huddersfield for maximum points.
The lead Hull have over Sedgley is six points and this makes Saturday’s encounter all the more important. A win for Hull will see them stretch their lead to a level which would mean Sedgley needing to have two more victories than Hull over the last few fixtures which would be a tough call for them.
Such calculations are premature as there will be a lot to be seen and savoured before half past three on Saturday afternoon.
Sedgley have had a good season. Their only losses have been by a point to Rotherham having drawn the return fixture with them, and a loss at home to Hull before Christmas. Hull’s early season loss to Stourbridge and a narrow defeat away to Rotherham means that the two sides have similar records and a very close game is in prospect.
Head coach Gary Pearce will be looking at what his best starting line up will be, and who he can bring on from the subs bench to make the maximum impact as the game moves into its later stages.
With good cover in both forwards and backs, getting that balance right will be no easy task, but he knows more than anyone that Hull have kept up their fitness levels and their intensity and have kept going until the final whistle in every game and never more so than against Rotherham when they overcame a yellow card late in the game as well to score a great try and win the game with less than two minutes to go.
Hull’s strength is that they are a unit and defend and attack with every player contributing which has seen tries coming from props to wingers and consistent goal kicking has added to the problems they pose for every side in this league.
It will be a tough encounter at Chants Ave, but Hull’s players are very much looking forward to this fixture as they know what a victory means for them and their club.
Home advantage will give Hull a slight edge, but they will need their best form to keep their 100% home record in tact.
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