Hull took the field without five regular players and had problems with winning their own line out ball yet came away with a bonus point and the plaudits of the home crowd for a never say die performance and a blistering final quarter when they scored the three of the best tries of the afternoon.
Such a finale seemed unlikely in the first half as the home side’s pack made the best use of line out ball gained from penalties and an opening try by prop Hay was quickly followed by another try fashioned from another line out. Park moved the ball back to the blind side from 40 yards out for back row man Ellis to touch down with off half Luc Smith adding the conversion after 22 minutes. Five minutes later the home side struck again driving the ball from a line out twenty five yards for prop Hay to go over again with Smith converting.
Hull responded on the half hour when scrum half Harvey Harding took a quick tap penalty and put young winger Jack Edwards away to drive through a tackle to score a good try converted by fullback Reece Dean seeing Hull trail 19-7 at halftime.
The second half started much like the first with Park being very effective at catch and drives from line outs and their pack scored two more unconverted tries through Ellis and hooker Piper, with one conversion from Smith to see them ahead 31-7 after 64 minutes.
Hull then staged a comeback which was exhilarating. They had been moving the ball well but with Reece Dean starting to find space, they scored a try from long range after great handling with Dean getting the try and then adding the conversion. Park used their pack once again to see Garvey over for a converted try but then Hull struck twice in the last few minutes.
Both tries were started in Hull’s half and good lines of running and slick handling saw second rower Alex Todd and winger Keane Naylor go in for tries both very well converted from wide out to see Hull gain a well deserved bonus point against one of the top sides in the division.
All Hull’s players had good moments and they played some excellent rugby giving reason to believe they are more than capable of better results.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 