A combination of pace and pack power from Hull blew away Nuneaton in the first half at the Ferens Ground
Nuneaton had the better of the opening exchanges with a third minute penalty from fly-half Huw Thomas before Greg Lound was narrowly wide with a penalty attempt three minutes later. Nuns continued to pound at the Hull line with three consecutive scrums in their favour and the inevitable try came after 15 minutes when a slick move led to a try from back-rower Alex Fan, too far out for the conversion. Hull took command for the remainder of the half.
Some sparkling back play in the 18th minute saw left-winger Will Robinson finish off the move with an unconverted try in the left corner. Hull maintained the pressure and eight minutes later fly-half Greg Lound put them on level terms with a penalty goal from 25 metres.
Hull roared back on the attack and a searing break down the middle by No. 8 Ollie Cook split the Nuns defence wide open and supporting full-back James Wigglesworth was on hand at pace to finish with a try near the posts leaving Lound an easy conversion for 15-8 to Hull.
Five minutes later it was scrum-half Matt White who jinked his way through the cover with a weaving run, and as the ball was moved left a magical pass from flanker Anthony Maka saw Robinson go round to score ten yards from the posts to leave Lound with another simple conversion.
In a brief foray into the Hull half the home side infringed at a ruck and Thomas landed a good kick to make it 22-11.
Hull got the bonus point in the second minute of added time when a fierce forward drive drove the Nuns over their own line near the posts with the final touch-down awarded to back-rower Rob Devonshire. Lound again obliged and Hull went in leading 29-11.
Hull brought on lock Chris Murphy for Ollie Cook at the break with Max Lewis moving from lock to No. 8. They maintained their grip on the game and spent the first ten minutes of the second half in the Nuns half of the field but a rugged Nuneaton defence denied them until the 59th minute when Hull knocked-on following a catch and drive which took them to the Nuns line. Hull took the resultant scrum against the head and simply steam-rollered their way over the Nuns line with the try awarded to back-rower Max Lewis. Lound's conversion hit the upright from wide out.
Nuneaton came back very strongly in the final few minutes and got some consolation for a plucky second-half display when left-winger Elliott Brown scored ten yards in from the left corner flag in the 76th minute following a very good move. The conversion was missed and the few minutes of added time remaining was played in the Nuneaton half.
This was a very good display from Hull who now seem to be getting into their stride. They might have expected to score more tries in the second half when their pack, led by the rampaging Chris Murphy, dominated the Nuns eight.
Credit must be paid to the visitors' second half defensive play and it must be remembered that they took high-flying Luctonians to 20-19 last week before losing. The general opinion after the game was that it was a job well done.
Hull are now 12th in the league table and are one of three sides on 20 points. They have a better scoring difference than Otley and Nuneaton but both of these clubs have won four games to Hull's three.
Norman Angell