A tremendous performance by Hull saw them fall short by the smallest of margins against promotion chasing Darlington who have lost just once all season. Despite losing the penalty count 17-8 and having a try chalked off for not properly grounding the ball Hull were the better side for long periods of the game.
The game started, as it has so often this season, with Hull failing to gather the kick off correctly immediately conceding possession .Darlington needed no second invitation and they kept possession, got the penalty award and then having won the ensuing line out used the ball well to send centre Callum Mackenzie in under the posts with off half Flynn Ward adding the conversion to see his side 7-0 up after just three minutes. Hull’s response was spirited to say the least. The pack tore into their opponents and off half Reece Dean reduced the arrears with a well struck penalty goal after thirteen minutes. .Hull returned to the attack from the kick off and a further penalty award saw them win a line out but then knock on near the Darlington line. The scrum award to the home side seemed to put an end to Hull’s attacking options but when their scrum half’s clearance kick was charged down and bounced back over the try line second rower Evi Uriburu -Gray was first to the ball and scored a try to put Hull in the lead which was extended to 10-7 with Reece Dean adding the conversion after fifteen minutes.
Hull were now giving the home side plenty to think about and when a break out of defence, lead by pacy centre Tom Minns, was halted illegally Hull won the ensuing line out and a pinpoint accurate crossfield kick by Reece Dean was expertly caught by winger Tom Lineham who charged over for a great try converted by Reece Dean to see Hull 17-7 in the lead after twenty six minutes .The Darlington reply was not long in coming and when the ball arrived in the hands of their number Jacob Butterill forty yards out in the centre position he bounced of three tackles and out paced the defence on the way to a stunning individual try converted by Ward to see his side close the gap to 17-14 in Hull’s favour at the break.
The second half saw both sides playing open rugby but it was Hull’s indiscipline that brought about the next score as Darlington’s off half ward kicked a penalty in the fiftieth minute to see his side draw level. Hull were still looking capable of a shock result and when new boy full back Joe Cummins broke clear and dived over after a forty yard burst Hull thought they had taken the lead but the ball was adjudged not to have grounded properly. Hull continued to attack but when a midfield mix up saw the ball go to ground Darlington’s winger James Bent scooped up the ball and raced away for a try converted by Ward to take a 24-17 lead after sixty five minutes . Hull were undaunted and although they lost possession eight yards out with the try line begging after seventy minutes they levelled the scores with swift handling from a scrum in the twenty two metre area with Tom Lineham diving in for his second try with Reece Dean adding the conversion.
Just when it seemed the game would end in a draw Darlington were awarded a penalty forty yards out and as it sailed over the with just a minute remaining a Darlington supporter shouted to his side ” you just got out of jail” as a fitting comment to a game that Hull could so easily have won .
Photo Credit: Dave Winn
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 