Club Historian Stephen Hodgson takes us on a trip down memory lane every week of the season. With rugby cancelled 5 years ago due to the coronavirus pandemic, Stephen has delved further into the club records to pick out games played on this week 10, 15 and 20 years ago. It continues to be a popular read with former and current players. Do you feature this week?
11 April 2015 – National Two North: Hull 21-28 Sedgley Park
Hull gained a bonus point but were left with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation following this home loss to Sedgley Park. The visitors opened the scoring with a converted try after just four minutes and despite Hull looking to attack at every opportunity Sedgley kept up the pressure and gained another converted try with six minutes remaining in the first half for a 14-0 lead at the break. Four minutes into the second half Park extended their lead with their third converted try before Hull finally got on the scoreboard.
Two quick tries from Jamie Kirk and Stephen Hihetah, both converted by Greg Lound, brought the hosts right back into the match. However Hull’s failure to score in the following twenty minute spell proved their undoing as the visitors scored a further converted try with thirteen minutes remaining. Hull scored the game’s best try when Lound dummied and side-stepped his way over for a fine individual try which he converted after seventy five minutes but the visitors held on for the win.
Team: J Kirk, A Holland, T Tanumi, A Heard, S Hihetah, G Lound, O Hardisty, R Davies, T Rice, P Sewell, L Brown, A Corkish, J Stafford, B Sullivan, O Cook. Subs: M Jobling, T Price, B Thoy, J Matthews, A Hedges.
Tries: J Kirk, S Hihetah, G Lound
Cons: G Lound 3
10 April 2010 – National Division Two North: Bradford & Bingley 24-31 Hull
After a pulsating midweek Yorkshire Cup second round local derby win over Beverley, a trip to West Yorkshire saw Hull return to league action and overcome an early deficit to beat second from bottom side Bradford & Bingley 31-24 thanks to a hat-trick from Motu Tony. The hosts scored two converted tries within twenty minutes before Tony scored the first of his tries following an offload from Maea David. James Cameron converted and Hull were back in the game.
Two minutes later Hull were level when Tony exploited an overlap allowed him to run in unopposed and Cameron again kicked the extras. The Bees went ahead again with a close range try five minutes before the break but the conversion was missed and Hull replied immediately with a try from David, following a thunderous run from Laurence Pearce. Cameron’s conversion gave Hull a narrow 19-21 half time lead.
Bradford flanker Ford scored his third try of the afternoon five minutes into the second half but the conversion was again missed and fifteen minutes later Hull levelled the scores at 24-24 with a James Cameron penalty. Both sides then missed penalties and opportunities to score before Tony sealed his hat-trick after a marauding run from Darren Wigg who moved it on to Tony to out-pace the last man and secure the bonus point for the visitors. Cameron kicked his fourth conversion and Hull had the win and their fourth double of the season.
Team: R Kitching, A Piercy, M Tony, M David, D Smith, J Cameron, W Robinson, A Gravil, S Plevey, K Fullman, M Alderson, D Cook, D Wigg, N Spence, R Devonshire. Subs: L Pearce, J Ward, S Onesi, J Lamping,
Tries: M Tony 3, M David.
Cons: J Cameron 4
Pen: J Cameron
9 April 2005 – North One: Preston Grasshoppers 18-13 Hull
Hull’s hopes of winning the North One Championship were ended by a late try from Grasshoppers as Preston’s victory virtually assured them the title but the visitors were aggrieved by the decision from the referee not to award a penalty try in the first half. Hoppers were first on the scoresheet with an unconverted try in the corner after just four minutes. Hull came back strongly with some good forward play and Guy Martinson kicked a penalty for the visitors.
Scrum half Chris Kendra and Martinson then combined for winger Danny Smith to kick ahead but he was blatantly obstructed by his opposite number Russell Flynn. Flynn was sin-binned but no penalty try was given although Smith would have certainly scored. Hull deservedly took the lead following a lineout when a catch and drive resulted in hooker Adam Atkinson going over. Martinson converted and Hull led 10-5.
Three minutes before the break Preston scored an unconverted try and as the half went into six minutes of added time the hosts put the Hull defence under intense pressure and were awarded three penalties. Bailey missed the first two but change kicker Flynn landed the third to give Hoppers a 13-10 interval lead. Preston missed another penalty after forty seven minutes before Martinson landed an excellent penalty to level the scores at 13-13. Two minutes later Hoppers got the match winning points when they scored an unconverted pushover try. The remainder of the game saw defences on top and there was no further scoring as the hosts held onto their narrow lead.
Team: G Martinson, D Smith, M David, A Smith, L McKenzie, M Donkin, C Kendra, J Ward, A Atkinson, A Fish, S Anderson, G Jackson, M Ma’ake, S Higginson, B Sanders. Subs: N Lyon, A Wilson, C Tranmer.
Try: A Atkinson
Con: G Martinson
Pens: G Martinson 2
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