Hull RUFC 21 - 16 Sheffield RUFC

Hull RUFC 21 - 16 Sheffield RUFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 23rd January 2016

15. Jimmy Pearson
14. Rupert Broadley
13. Joe Cribley
12. Owen Smith
11. Gareth Morley
10. Rob Conville
9. Josh Bird

1. Tobi Amemakin
2. Sam Whitworth
3. Tommy Marples
4. Dave Clayden
5. Dom Parsons (Capt)
6. Alex Fawdry
7. Tom Womack
8.
Replacements
16. Dan Rylance
17. Connor Mitchell
18. Ali Womack

With no match, because of the weather, since the 19th December, Sheffield travelled to Hull fully believing that a win away was very possible. Some early indiscipline left Sheffield trailing by 6 points as Hull fly half Josh Bragman converted penalty opportunities on three and thirteen minutes. \this despite making s complete hash of a penalty attempt on 4 minutes. Sheffield struck back on 16 minutes through a converted penalty from Joe Cribley, and just five minutes later took the lead through a try wide out right through right wing Rupert Broadley. Joe Cribley's conversion went wide, but Sheffield led by 8 points to 6. Sheffield, although being pressured at the scrum were doing well at the line out and with 29 minutes gone were awarded a further penalty when Hull were adjudged to have collapsed a scrum. Joe Cribley converted and Sheffield had an 11 point to 6 lead, which they took into half time.

Following the break Hull were awarded a penalty on 50 minutes, almost directly in front of the posts of the Sheffield posts at the scrum, more due to the earache the referee was getting from both the Hull coaching team and players than a Sheffield infringement. Bragman converted again and the lead was reduced to 2 points at 11 points to 9. Sheffield rallied and looked the stronger of the two sides, for which reward came with a penalty chance on 55 minutes, but Joe Cribley's attempt was to go wide. Further opportunity came and was taken with 62 minutes played, when left wing Gareth Morley went over in the corner. Again Joe Cribley could not convert the try and Sheffield's lead was kept at a slender 16 points to 9. In these situations, of which there have been a number this season, Sheffield need to learn to close a game out. Madness ensued, and with 73 minutes on the clock, centre Owen Smith was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. Bragman kick Hull into the corner for the line out, and a potential push over try. Not for the first time, Sheffield responded with Alex Fawdry rising high to steal Hull's line out ball. However, the ball was somehow lost backwards, Sheffield failed to secure the loose ball and Hull's blindside flanker, Joe Stafford pounced to give Hull their first try. Bragman added the conversion and the scores were tied at sixteen points all. Hill took full advantage of their one man advantage and pulled the Sheffield defence around the park and whist Sheffield defended stoutly, the gaps began to open and with less than a minutes to go, replacement Ben Sulivan, a former Sheffield junior broached the defence to score wide out on the left. Bragman could not add the conversion, but Hull led by 21 points to 16 and the referee deemed there was no time left for the restart and Christmas had come late to Hull RUFC.

Scoring:-

League Table:-