Naylor To Make Long Awaited Return Against Wharfedale

Hull take on Wharfedale this weekend at Chanterlands Avenue. The visitors have been working their way up the league table and have arrived at fourth place in the table.

In the game at Wharfedale earlier this season, Hull were out of sorts and fell to a 35-6 defeat at a time when new combinations were being tried and the side did not function as well as it has in recent weeks. 

Hull have had a couple of good victories in the past fortnight taking their season’s tally to nine victories, one draw and eight losses and a total of 46 points to their name, occupying eighth place in the league as opposed to this week’s opponents who have 13 wins and 62 points to their credit and sit in fourth place. 

Hull have a chance to narrow that gap, but it will be to tough task. However Hull’s line out has much improved since the autumn and the scrum has remained solid throughout the campaign.

The pack has undergone some enforced changes, but despite injuries, it has remained a force to be reckoned with. Recently, Paulos Latu has moved to number eight and Will Hall has returned from injury to be a very effective wing forward.

Alec Renouf moved up into the second row with the ever reliable Liam Regardsoe and performed very well last week. Hull’s front row has been very consistent all season with the arrival of several newcomers being able to learn from the vastly experienced Charlie Beech.

This week Hull will see the return of centre/winger Peter Hudson-Kowalewizc from international duty with Poland and winger Keane Naylor, who has been out injured for almost a year. This will give Hull some good options in a back division that performed well last week.

Wharfedale looked a good attacking force when they took the points against Hull earlier in the season, but Hull have improved since then and with players of good field vision and pace from scrum-half to full-back they can make life difficult for any side if they get enough of the right sort of possession .

Defence against a side like Wharfedale will be crucial, and that could be the key in what looks like a close, but potentially high-scoring contest.