Hull looked comfortable in the first few minutes and dominated the last ten minutes but in between they produced an error strewn performance that allowed a workmanlike Scunthorpe side too many scoring chances eventually losing by two points.
The game started so well for Hull when they secured good scrum ball after just four minutes and kept the ball alive for multiple phases for second rower Alec Renouf to plunge over for try near the posts with off half Reece Dean adding the conversion. Just six minutes later with Hull in the ascendency Dean kicked a penalty for Hull to see his side ten points up and looking in a strong position.
Scunthorpe gave signs of things to come when they then swept forward and a sixty yard move came to nought as the final pass just ten yards out went to ground. Hull managed a carbon copy of that move when a good break out of defence saw winger Joe Lineham burst over the half way line but his scoring pass was knocked on and seven points went begging. Hull kept the scoreboard ticking over with a well struck penalty from Reece Dean after twenty six minutes and at 13-0 ahead the hone side looked in a good position. However with halftime just five minutes away and the visitors getting the better of the penalty count, a quick tap penalty in Hull’s twenty two metre area saw their scrum half Will Dark scamper over for a try which he converted. A late penalty by Dark had the alarm bells ringing for Hull as their comfortable lead was trimmed to just three points at halftime.
The second half saw the visitors go close to scoring a try from the kick off but they made no mistake when Dark kicked a penalty goal almost immediately afterwards to level the sores. Worse was to come for Hull as Scunthorpe swarmed back into the attack feeding of Hull’s infringements and penalty awards retaining possession better than Hull. It came as no surprise when Scunthorpe made the best use of a catch and drive after another penalty award saw them in Hull’s twenty two metre area. Their second row Dan Gilbert powered over for a try converted by Dark to see his side in the lead for the first time at 20-13 ahead after fifty two minutes. A further try after sixty five minutes by back row forward James Dyson converted by Dark gave his side a very solid 27- 13 advantage.
The last ten minutes saw Hull desperately trying to get back into the game and some powerful running led Scunthorpe to concede penalties and two well worked lineout catch and drives saw Hull score two tries through second row Mike Jobling and prop Charlie Beech but Reece Dean could only convert one of them as his final effort just drifted wide from a very difficult angle into the wind leaving a jubilant Scunthorpe side to claim their first win of the season by the slenderest of margins.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 