Hull edged out Sheffield Tigers in a dramatic finale when the visitors were adjudged to have grounded the ball inches short of the try line in the last play of the game for what might have been the winning score.
Hull started well but an early offside gave Tigers’ off-half Mark Ireland the chance to kick a simple penalty to put his side ahead 3-0.
Hull continued to play open rugby and it took just 10 minutes for Hull to score their first try. Having retained possession Hull worked the ball wide on the left where prop Charlie Beech was on hand to race over in the corner. Reece Dean’s touch line conversion seeing into a 7-3 lead.
With the rain now playing its part, both sides were making errors but it was Hull who scored next when Beech picked up at the back of a ruck 15 yards out to brush off three tacklers on his way to a try under the posts converted by Dean after 35 minutes.
As half time approached, Hull attacked down the left hand side and centre David Halafoinua offloaded out of the tackle for Matiu Welch to go in at the left hand corner for a try magnificently converted by Dean to see Hull lead 21-3 at the break.
The second period saw both sides spin the ball but with conditions worsening Hull were making a few errors at vital moments which brought pressure on them selves.
After 45 minutes Hull’s David Halafoinua was yellow carded when his tackle rode up and was deemed to have made contact too high. Sheffield made good use of the numerical superiority and immediately centre James Broadley went in for an unconverted try.
Both sides strove to get a pivotal score but it was the Tigers who were getting the better of the penalty count who scored again after 63 minutes when hooker William Archer barged over for a try converted by Ireland.
A brief period of Hull pressure saw Reece Dean kick a penalty after 70 minutes leaving Sheffield needing two scores for a victory. After 72 minutes, Ireland put his side within six points of Hull with a well struck penalty as Hull strayed offside at the kick off, but Hull held out in dramatic fashion to win their third game of the season.
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