Hull went down to a second successive heavy defeat against league leaders Sheffield but were well in the game at half time with the score at 17-13 in Sheffield’s favour. The sending off of Hull’s Tom Lineham early in the second half ,which some saw as harsh ,ended the game as an even contest and a talented Sheffield side made the best use of their numerical advantage.
Sheffield started with pace and power and took just five minutes to register their first try. A lineout in Hull’s twenty two metre area was well won and smart handling saw winger Cameron Catleugh go in for his sides first try which went unconverted..Hull then defended well against a wave of Sheffield attacks but as the home side went through multiple phases they found the gaps and after thirteen minutes centre Matty Drennan went in for a try near the posts which was converted by his off half Callum Posa..
Hull were getting the better of the penalty count and securing good lineout possession and were starting to put some pressure on the Shefield defence and after twenty two minutes this was rewarded with a penalty converted by off half Reece Dean to open Hull’s account.
Sheffield responded with free flowing rugby and after thirty minutes great backing up saw second rower Zak Poole take the final pass to go over for his side’s third try which went unconverted. Hull then made the most of penalty awards and having established good field position in their opponents twenty two metre area ,and seen the Sheffield off half Posa yellow carded they were able score a good try with a neat pass from of half Dean and good line of running by centre Jack Render which saw him burst through the home sides defence for a good try under the posts which Dean converted after thirty one minutes. As half time approached the same player added a further penalty and as Hull went in trailing by just four points it was all to play for in the second period.
The second half started disastrously for Hull as Shefield scored an early try though scrum half Fisher who converted his own try but then when Joe Lineham made a tackle on a Sheffield player after they had secured the ball it was deemed dangerous and he was sent off which left Hull’s defence a man short and Sheffield’s fluent attack made the best use of their numerical superiority . Their full back Hooper immediately raced over for try converted by Posa .Three further tries followed from number eight Fawdry, prop Rogers and winger Catleugh with Posa converting two of them .Hull never gave up and a battling catch and drive resulted in back rower .and Hull’s man of the match , Evi Uriburu-Grey peeling of the maul and crashing over near the post with Dean adding the conversion after seventy minutes .
The last ten minutes saw further three tries going to Sheffield through back rowers Addcock and Crapper with winger Catleugh getting a try on the final whistle whilst Hull’s Jack Render rounded off a very good afternoon for him with a smart interception try
converted by his off half Dean after seventy eight minutes.
Hull found it tough against the runaway league leaders Sheffield who played some excellent rugby but the sending off played a crucial part in the score line .
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