Better Team Loses As Sheffield Escape With A Win

Hull and Sheffield played a great game of rugby that Hull let slip when two try-scoring opportunities went begging in the last five minutes when passes went to ground in Sheffield’s ‘22’ area.

The game started ominously for Hull, as having failed to catch Sheffield’s kick off,  Sheffield made the most of their possession and having forced a penalty. From this, they used the ensuing lineout to score a catch and drive try credited to their hooker Rhodri Campbell converted by scrum half Elliott Fisher. 

Hull’s response was immediate after dispossessing the visitors, Hull centre Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz put back rower Evi Uriburu-Gray in at  the left-hand corner for a well worked unconverted try. Better was to come for the home side as Hull went on the attack again having won a lineout and kept the ball alive with centre Bureta Faraimo blasting his way over near the posts for a try converted by Hull’s off-half Harrison Astley.

It didn’t take long for Hull to increase their lead when they made best use of a catch and drive after a lineout following a penalty award, with prop Jamie Major getting the touchdown for another unconverted try.

Sheffield were always trying to attack and it was they who scored next when they counter attacked from deep and winger Jack Dawson ran in for a good try converted by his scrum half Fisher after 24 minutes.

Only a minute later, after getting a turn over ball from their own kick off, Hull’s centre Faraimo once again forced his way through the Sheffield defence brushing off four would be tacklers on his way to a spectacular unconverted try.

The first half’s scoring was completed by Sheffield’s Fisher who rounded off a period of pressure with a try under the posts which he then converted  to see his side within one point of Hull at the break 22-21.

The second half saw Hull score next with Uriburu-Gray scored near the posts with Astley converting after Hull’s forwards had driven to the line. Four minutes later Astley started a move deep in his own half which saw back row man Adam Brankley sprint 60 yards before timing his pass perfectly for substitute winger David Halaifonua to run in for a try near the post. Astley’s conversion saw Hull well ahead at 36-21 after 53 minutes.

Thereafter Sheffield scored three tries with one converted as they fought to get back on terms. In the 57th minute second row Parsons got the touchdown after another efficient catch and drive. Five minutes later, winger Dawson went in again after good scrum ball was moved left to his wing and then Hull contrived to lose a scrum ball on their own put in and Sheffield’s number eight Burrow charged over under the posts for a try converted by Fisher to put his side two points ahead after  70 minutes.

Hull fought back and got themselves in a position to win the game but a couple of errors meant that Sheffield could breath a sigh of relief as their winning sequence stretches to six games with Hull claiming two well earned bonus points.