Hull travel to Chester this weekend looking for their third win of the season. Chester have already achieved that goal and sit two places above Hull in ninth place.
Chester have beaten both Sheffield Tigers and Tynedale by significant margins on thier own ground and achieved a very creditable win away at Preston Grasshoppers on the opening day of the season.
Losses to Lymm, Fylde and Hull Ionians and narrowly to Harrogate and Otley point to a mixed start, not unlike Hull’s own performances. Both sides have a lot of scoring potential but have found that sought after 80 minutes of consistency hard to find.
Hull are hoping to welcome back second row Liam Regardsoe and prop Charlie Beech into the forwards squad. Prop Tom Bairstow is not available and a late decision will be made as to the exact starting line up of their front row.
In the backs, subject to a late fitness test, it is hoped that prolific try scorer Mike Adlard will get some game time possibly from the bench. Hull’s two scrum-halves Sam Crane and Harvey Harding are not available but Hull have options in that Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz and Ben Hall can play in that position.
Ali Heard and Bureta Faraimo are likely to be the centre partnership. Director of rugby Mike Umaga has talented players including Duell Trueman, Fynlay Hobson and Keane Naylor to fill the wing and full back positions.
If Hull’s pack can maintain their excellent supply of first phase possession and use that as a platform to develop forward momentum, a third victory is achievable, but they will need to be aware that Chester remain a tough prospect on their own ground.
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