On the day he equalled the club’s all-time appearance record, skipper Ali Heard scored the match-winning try in a thrilling derby win at Hull Ionians. Heard made his 242nd appearance in the red, black and gold jersey to join Guy Martinson at the top of the list. Heard scored the fourth try to secure a bonus point for the visitors who had to hold off a mighty fightback from the home side at Brantingham Park.
Hull started the game full of attacking endeavour and as early as the fifth minute they broke from deep in their own half through number eight Adam Brankley who passed inside to winger Mike Adlard who sprinted past four defenders on his way to a try under the posts converted by his full-back Fynlay Hobson.
The same player kicked a 15th-minute penalty and this was followed by a sweeping move from a lineout with Hull’s other winger Harry Dawkins touching down for an unconverted try after 20 minutes.
Ten minutes later, Hull scored again when, having achieved good field position in the home sides ’22’, off-half Harrison Astley linked with centre Bureta Faraimo who surged over under the posts for a try converted by Hobson to see his side ahead 22-0.
Hull Ionians then struck back through their talisman centre Lewis Minikin who raced over and converted his own try to see the score at 22-7 in Hull’s favour after 33 minutes. As half-time approached, the home side’s number eight George Mewburn was yellow carded which was to have repercussions in the second half.
Hull, with a one-man advantage, quickly shrugged off a Minikin penalty for the home side after 42 minutes and ran in two tries in three minutes. Firstly Astley scythed his way through the home defence for a try converted by Hobson after 46 minutes and then a searing break by winger Adlard saw Heard on hand to drive over for an unconverted try to see his side ahead 34-10.
The kick-off by the home side seemed to have been controlled by Hull but an intended box kick was charged down with Hull Ionians collecting the ball for their second row man Lucas Powell to touch down with Minikin adding the conversion.
Moments late Minikin rounded off further pressure with a well-taken try which he converted to narrow the gap to 34-24 in Hull’s favour. When Hull Ionians retained lineout possession from 28 yards out and put Cameron Burnhill in for another try which went unconverted after 76 minutes. They were in sight of Hull being just five points behind.
Hull reintroduced prop Charlie Beech and were able to gain some forward momentum of their own and a forward surge saw them within a few yards of the home side’s try line and a penalty award saw Hobson stretch Hull’s lead to eight points after 77 minutes.
The home side were still not finished and in the last minute scored a seven-point penalty try to see them within a point of their visitors. Hull kicked off and managed to get a turnover ball and clear to touch to end a truly epic and free-flowing game winning by just a point to make it three successive wins at Brantingham Park.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 