Skipper Ali Makes Milestone Appearance

Hull centre and captain Ali Heard played his 243rd game for the club at Billingham making him the club’s record holder for most appearances. A wonderful personal achievement. Unfortunately, Hull were unable to mark the occasion with a victory.

Their performance was encapsulated in two incidents. The first was after 58 minutes when seven points went begging with a final pass 20 yards out went to ground with the try line open. The second was a lost lineout near the end of the game on Hull’s throw just six yards from Billingham’s line. This lack of precision proved very costly. 

The game started well for the visitors when winger Harry Dawkins touched down in the left hand corner after just four minutes for an unconverted try after a lineout on Hull’s right.

However Hull were already attracting the referee’s attention for their tackle technique and after just 10 minutes Hull’s number eight Adam Brankley was sent to the sin bin.

The home side responded immediately and after pressure on the Hull try line their off half Evans forced his way over under the posts and converted his own try to put his side into a lead they never relinquished.

Hull’s efforts to regain control were hampered when after 28 minutes, Billingham’s second row Evans completely mishandled the ball but caught it before it hit the floor to stride over for another try converted by Evans.

To compound Hull’s woes their own second row Liam Regardsoe was yellow carded swapping places with the returning Adam Brankley which meant Hull were playing 20 minutes of the half with 14 men.

The visitors were still well in the game and after gaining good field position and seeing Billingham reduced to 14 men a dominant scrum five yards out saw Brankley burrow his way over for an unconverted try to see Hull right in it at 14-10 to Billingham.

Unfortunately, just as it seemed Hull would hold out until the break they conceded possession and Billingham’s centre Groark touched down for an unconverted try right on half time to see Hull trailing 19-10 at the break.

At the start of the second half Hull brought on centre Bureta Faraimo and back rower Paulos Latu, but it was Billingham who scored next when their number eight Jackson capitalised on his side’s forward pressure to touch down for a try converted by his off half Evans after just 46 minutes.

Just 10 minutes later further home side pressure and a favourable bounce saw Billingham’s winger Hopley touch down for an unconverted try. Hull responded immediately but failed to score when a final pass did not go to hand.

Some relief was gained after 62 minutes when a kick from Billingham was caught in Hull’s half and passed to substitute centre Faraimo who scythed through the home sides defence from 45 yards out touching down near the posts with Hull’s Fynlay Hobson adding the conversion .

A penalty on 64 minutes by Billingham’s Evans was the only other score as Hull sought to mount a challenge by introducing all their substitutes but they were unable to turn the tide going down 34-17 to a team who took all their chances.