Memory Lane With Stephen Hodgson

Club historian Stephen Hodgson takes us on a trip down memory lane every week of the season. Stephen picks out matches the club played on this week from 5, 10 and 15 years ago. It continues to be a popular read with former and current players. Do you feature in this week’s article?

7 December 2019 – National Two North: Preston Grasshoppers 13-18 Hull

Hull completed a hat trick of wins with victory away at Preston Grasshoppers. Simon Humberstone opened the scoring with an early penalty but Preston responded with a converted try on 30 minutes. Seven minutes later Hull had Cameron Curry yellow carded and Preston kicked a penalty for a 10-3 half time advantage. The second half did not start well for Hull as they were penalised and Preston extended their lead to 13-3 with the successful penalty kick.

The visitors moved up a gear and Stephen Johnson took a superb pass from Humberstone to touch down under the posts after 45 minutes. Humberstone converted the try and three minutes later kicked a penalty to level the scores. After 69 minutes Hull won a line out and when the ball was moved left Reece Dean gave Tom O’Donnell a great pass to allow him to power over for an unconverted try to put Hull 18-13 ahead. Solid tackling, determination and good ball retention in the final 10 minutes saw Hull hold on for their third consecutive win.

Team: R Dean, L Birch, T Tanumi, S Johnson, K Naylor, S Humberstone, H Harding, M Dias, M Jobling, C Beech, C Curry, L Regardsoe, T O’Donnell, W Hall, L Makaafi. Subs: T Kivalu, C Bell, R Watts, P Hamber, T Lee.

Tries: S Johnson, T O’Donnell.
Con: S Humberstone
Pens: S Humberstone 2

6 December 2014 – National Two North : Sedgley Park 47-15 Hull

Hull’s struggles continued with a 47-15 defeat at Sedgley Park. The hosts opened the scoring in the 12^th minute with a converted try and they doubled the advantage two minutes later when a missed tackle opened up a gap for Sedgley to score another converted try. James Cameron slotted over a penalty for Hull after 20 minutes and the visitors had much of the game for the next 15 minutes but having weathered the storm Sedgley scored again on 36 minutes and quickly followed it up with a catch and drive try, both converted for a 28-3 lead.

Nevertheless Hull came back strongly and Stephen Hihetah scored in the corner with Cameron adding the conversion to reduce the arrears to 28-10 at half time. Unfortunately Hull conceded a converted try in the first minute of the second half followed by a further converted try after 55 minutes. A few minutes later the home side scored their seventh and final try but Hull continued to attack and a late try for Hihetah finished the scoring.

Team: T Tanumi, A Piercy, A Heard, R Holland, S Hihetah, J Cameron, O Hardisty, T Price, M Jobling, A Tamanis, M Alderson, R Devonshire, B Sullivan, J Gray, J Stafford. Subs: W Haddow, J Bright, J Trail.
Try: S Hihetah
Con: J Cameron
Pen: J Cameron

5 December 2009 –  National Division Two North : Huddersfield 9 -17 Hull

Hull’s continued improved form proved too much for a struggling Huddersfield side as the visitors dominated the game. Huddersfield scored an early penalty but Hull soon gained the initiative with a Shaun Leaf try, converted by Robin Kitching, followed 10 minutes later by prop Andy Gravil crashing over for another try, again converted by Kitching.

A second penalty for Huddersfield finished the scoring in the first half and Hull went into the break with a 14-6 lead. The Hull pack dominated the second half but a further Huddersfield penalty reduced the gap to five points before Kitching slotted over a penalty for Hull to extend the lead to 17-9 and finish the scoring.

Team:  G Martinson, R Kitching, S Leaf, M David, T Vaikona, J Cameron, O Hardisty, A Gravil, S Plevey, K Fullman, C Murphy, D Cook, D Wigg, N Spence, R Devonshire. Subs:  K Renwick, L Pearce, B Dorrington, A Campbell, J Ward.
Tries: S Leaf, A Gravil
Cons: R Kitching 2
Pen: R Kitching