Hull beat Preston Grasshoppers 41-24 after a close first period as they pulled away from their rivals from Lancashire when their scrum began to dominate and their substitute winger Jake Boardman score two spectacular tries.
The home side started well and after almost scored a try from a third minute lineout. They were the first to score after 11 minutes, when a flowing attacking move stretched the Preston defence for full back Fynlay Hobson to dummy his way over for a try near the posts which he then converted.
Preston were then helped to their first score after Hull lost a lineout in their own half with full back Josh Ree scored in the right hand corner for an unconverted try after 17 minutes.
As both sides sought to gain the upper hand, it was Hull’s Hobson who put Hull further ahead with a well-struck penalty after 27 minutes, but then Preston took full advantage of Hull’s indiscipline to force their over after a line out following a penalty award with centre Edward Keohane scoring an unconverted try to level the scores at 10-10.
As half-time approached, Hull drove upfield playing some expansive rugby and when a penalty in a kickable position was awarded, Preston were caught napping as Hull’s winger Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz made the most of quick tap penalty to weave his way through the defence for an unconverted try to see Hull ahead 15- 10 at the interval.
The second half was just five minutes old when Hull made their first substitution bringing on prop Charlie Beech. His impact was immediate as he disrupted Preston’s scrum and then led a driving maul to the line before plunging over for an unconverted try after 50 minutes.
Preston then made best use another Hull error after they stole the ball and a couple of passes saw winger Tyler Spence race in with full back Ree adding the two points after 62 minutes.
With the game in the balance Hull produced three stunning tries to seal the game. After 66 minutes, a dominant scrum saw Hull drive to the line with the ever alert number eight Adam Brankley forcing his way over for a try.
Three minutes later, a brilliant 50-yard flighted kick by Hull off-half Harrison Astley was caught by substitute winger Jake Boardman who jinked past his opposite number before touching down in the right hand corner.
Better was to come as Boardman then received the ball, after a turnover deep in his own ’22’ to beat Preston’s defence in a 90-yard sprint to put the game beyond the visitors. Hobson’s three well-struck conversions saw Hull effectively out of sight with just three minutes remaining.
To their credit, Preston never gave up and a late catch-and-drive try from a lineout after Billy Addy had been yellow carded gave them a bonus point, but they could not prevent Hull taking a full five points after a good afternoon’s work.
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