Hull travel to Cheshire on Saturday to take on one time league leaders Lymm on their all weather pitch. Hull have not had the best record on all-weather pitches and they are very different from grass not least because of a completely different bounce of the ball.
They will face a side that remained unbeaten until they lost to fellow promotion candidates Sheffield but they have beaten the current league leaders Leeds. However, Lymm’s results have fallen away since the start of February losing to Tynedale, Fylde and Otley as they hit something of an injury and unavailability crisis.
As the saying goes ‘form is temporary, but class is permanent’ and as the problems Lymm have encountered subside, they will prove very difficult opponents once again.
Nevertheless, Hull will travel in good heart after their last game a couple of weeks ago when they achieved a five-point haul against a very useful Preston Grasshoppers side.
Hull will be without influential prop Charlie Beech but will be hoping that backrow forward Paulos Latu will be able to return to the squad. Hull’s regular starting front row of Tom Bairstow, Jamie Major and Mike Jobling seem likely to start the game and their solid performances all season have been a feature of the side and good performances from them often produce good results.
The backs could be without captain and ever present centre Ali Heard which would mean a new centre partnership will be unveiled. David Halaifonua, having played in the back row for most of the season, played well in his accustomed centre position against Preston and could be partnered by the talented Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz who can play wing or centre.
Wingers Harry Dawkins and Jake Boardman have enough pace to trouble most defences and may relish the fast ground afforded by the all-weather pitch. Full-back Fynlay Hobson has made significant progress as a goal kicker and has injected a real attacking threat from full back.
Hull have several potential tryscorers but they will need their pack, not only to win first-phase ball, but to deliver possession at the breakdown if they are to beat a Lymm side that will be looking to get back on track after a few difficult weeks .
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