Hull travelled west down the M62 to Wakefield and rolled into Sandal RUFC wondering what to expect, when in their last visit they found themselves on the back of an 81 points to nil rout.
The weather warm and sunny, in fact perfect conditions for a fast flowing game of ruby and both sides didn’t disappoint.
The game started with a high hanging kick from the home side but the visitors kept their composure and ground the ball out of the danger zone.
Both sets of forward worked hard in trying to over-come the opposition and early confrontations didn’t provide a clear winner.
Hull were the first with a penalty and Ben was close with the kick but the ball shaded the left-hand upright.
The forwards continued to batter each other but it was pretty much stalemate in the eights, however whenever the ball hit the Sandal backs they looked fast and skillfull.
From a blatant knock-forward by Sandal - missed by the official, the home side found themselves gaining a penalty for a high shots and this gave them the platform to score the games first points after making the try-line wide on the flank. The conversion to wide out and the score was 5-0 to the home team.
The Sandal boys, clearly uplifted their game but the Hull lads were in no mood to give easy.
The home team went close to the Hull line but tough defence made the Sandal player error and the chance lost.
More pressure by Sandal but the Hull players smugged the ball and Ben made the half-way line with a great releving kick.
However the pressure eventually told and Sandal scored a deserved try yet again too far out to convert.
Despite this the Hull lads heads failed to drop even when the home side scored in the final seconds of the half, to make the half time score Sandal 15 Hull 0.
The Hull coaching staff must have been delighted with their charges and they matched the Sandal boys right across the park. the parents on the touchline agreed the progress this season is dynamic.
The second half started and the play continued in the same vein as the first with both sets of forwards cancelling one another out. The major differences between the teams being better cohesion, expansive play in the backs and as the game wore some of the heavier Hull players found the heat sapping and failed to see them make the breakdowns.
Hull pressed on the Sandal line but the home team controlled the play and once their backs got the ball they went full length to score a great try, and the conversion made it 22-0.
The visitors though refused to give up and a great set piece move following a Hull penalty saw Dale drive the ball close to the home line and the move continued by Ross who powered over the Sandal line to great cheers from the Hull players and supporters alike. The wide-out conversion close but just missing. The score line was Sandal by 22-5.
Sandal refused to lose the wrestle and it was becoming a monumental tussle - until the home forwards finally used their ability to offload as the game aged got the ball wide and the home speedsters did the rest.
The West Riding outfit ran in a further three tries as the Hull defence tired and added a conversion to make the final score Sandal 39 Hull 5.
In summary: The game was played in great spirits throughout and both teams desire to play expansive rugby made for a good spectacle.
It is probably fair to say the scoreline flatted the home team, but their is no despute they deserved the spoils.
The Hull boys have made massive strides this season and this perfectly illustrated by comparing last seasons scores aginst likes of Sandal, Bridlington, Malton and Driffield to this seasons.
Onwards and upwards, every player should be proud of their achievement this season, the coaches delighted by the major improvements and parents happy their sons are turning into a better player and playing their part in a fast improving team.
The final game this season is at Morely next week and this bring the curtain down on a most enjoyable season.