Hull recorded their first league win of the season with this victory over a very determined Harrogate side at the Ferens Ground.
They got off to the best of starts with a James Cameron penalty from 40 metres out in the third minute and for the first ten minutes had the better exchanges, putting the visitors under some heavy pressure, but were unable to turn pressure into points. They suffered a blow in the sixth minute when flanker, Tom Doughty, went off injured, to be replaced by Antony Maka. Harrogate eventually broke out to take the play to halfway and the next fifteen minutes saw them enjoy territorial advantage. They were beginning to look like the better side, especially with ball in hand, and in the 29th minute they took a lineout off the Hull throw on the left flank and fast handling saw the ball moved across the face of the Hull posts before winger, Noel Minikin, crossed in the right corner, too far out for Joe Rowntree to convert.
Things got worse for Hull in the 32nd minute when a very poor clearance out of defence was taken by 'Gate who ran the ball back up the left wing for centre, Luke Edwards, to score in the corner, again too far out for the conversion. Most of the final eight minutes of the half was controlled by 'Gate who repeatedly broke the Hull defence in midfield only to be held either by last ditch tackles, or by their own handling errors. In the final minute of the half Hull got back onto level terms when a fine break by Ollie Cook in mid-field sliced open the 'Gate defence and the fast-moving winger, Will Robinson, was in support to take the pass to score beneath the posts, leaving James Cameron the easiest of conversions.
Whatever was said in the Hull dressing room at half-time was taken to heart as Hull came out looking a different side and re-started very strongly. In the 44th minute the Harrogate flanker, Chris Wilson, was yellow-carded in front of his own posts and Cameron put Hull back in front with the easiest of kicks. This gave Hull a much-needed impetus and it was their turn to apply the pressure and four minutes later, as 'Gate were defending desperately, they knocked-on, giving Hull a scrum in front of the posts. With an attempted pushover try likely Hull changed their usual tactics and quickly moved the ball to the right where full-back, Guy Martinson, provided the final pass for centre, James Kirk, to score in the right corner. Cameron's attempt was high enough and long enough but just went wide and Hull now led 18-10.
Hull kept up the pressure on 'Gate, who seemed to have lost their first-half zip, and in the 50th minute they went further ahead when a low kick through was deflected off the leg of a Harrogate player. The ball was picked up by flanker, Anthony Maka, who made twenty metres before putting in the supporting James Cameron for a try near the posts which he had no difficulty in converting. 25-10 to Hull and they were playing much better now but in the 53rd minute 'Gate worked the ball to mid-field and a very good break by full-back Ed Smithies saw him race 30 metres to score a good try in the left corner. Once again the angle was too much for Rowntree to convert.
Hull drove back onto the attack again and following some constant pressure they were awarded a five-metre scrum and this time they forced the 'Gate pack over their own line for Ollie Cook to claim the touchdown. This gave Hull the try-scoring bonus point and for the first time this season they were going to add another four to it. Cameron converted and it was now 32-15 with twenty minutes to play. Hull controlled the game well for the next fifteen minutes but the last five minutes and a further six of added time saw Harrogate come back strongly and the Hull defence had to be on top form to keep their line safe. Hull scrum-half, Matt White, was yellow-carded in the third minute of added time and the visitors finally got their fourth try, and the bonus point, when in the final minute Chris Wilson crashed over beneath the posts, and for the first time in the game Joe Rowntree had an easy conversion which he gratefully took. Hull still have areas of their game where they must improve but after getting that elusive first league win of the season their confidence, which had not wilted after the first four games, will only get better. With a very tough game at Loughborough Students next Saturday it will need to.
Norman Angell