Hull could point to their never ending injury jinx as prop Gareth Denman left the field after just ten minutes and to the three gift tries they laid on for Macclesfield as some excuse for this worst defeat in three years but in truth the visitors pace behind the scrum was something Hull were not able to handle as the nine tries scored by those backs to one by their forwards gives testament to.
It took just six minutes for Macclesfield to open the scoring through winger Mike Shute when Hull having pushed the visitors off the ball in their own twenty two metre area , lost the ball giving Shute the easy task of scoring under the posts with centre Oliver converting. The same pairing were on hand ten minutes later to double their advantage and take an early 14 point lead. However Hull ‘s forwards were matching their opponents in the tight exchanges and when they received a penalty award and won a lineout ten yards out from the Macclesfield line they made no mistake with a good catch and drive seeing back rower Ward getting the try which was well converted by off half Harry Gunn-McLean after twenty eight minutes .
The last ten minutes of the half were frantic with Hull too often conceding possession which saw Macclesfield centre Blackwell dance through the home defence for two tries in the twenty ninth and fortieth minutes sandwiching a thirty second minute try by his scrum half Martin who backed up well for his score .Two of these tries were converted by centre Oliver . Hull were able to add to their tally in the thirty ninth minute with a well worked try after clean lineout possession was used to good effect with the ball moving through the hands with full back Jamie Shaul rounding off the move touching down near the right hand corner , too far out for the conversion attempt seeing Hull 33-12 in arears.
The second half started with real hope for Hull as they stormed down the pitch from the kick off and with the forwards leading the way the ball was moved to centre David Halaifonua who made no mistake crashing over under the posts for a try converted by Gunn-McLean getting his side a little nearer at 33-19 after just forty one minutes .
However Hull were unable to build on that excellent try and Macclesfield’s pace told with back rower Hughes and off half Attis rounding off handling moves to score two converted tries in the forty eigth and forty ninth minutes with Attis converting one and M Shute converting the other.
Hull were always in with a shout in the close quarter exchanges and another catch and drive ended with hooker Bergmans getting the try with substitute off half Joe Adans get the conversion after sixty four minutes.
With Hull pressing for a further score the visitors capitalised on handling errors and Hull were left to rue scoring chances for themselves that turned into tries for their opponents as dropped balls and a second interception saw substitute back Keogh, off half Attis ,centre Blackwell and winger Shute all get over for tries in the last ten minutes with Attis adding two conversions to see his side well and truly home and dry 66-26 .
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 