Hull 38-7 Kendal

SEMI-professional outfit Hull asserted their dominance over Kendal despite a much improved performance from the Cumbrians.

Hull took the lead after a quarter of an hour. There was a break down the left and the ball was then moved to right wing Stephen Hiehetah to score. This was his twenty second try of the season as he chases a club record of twenty six. Outside half Steve Johnson added the conversion. 7v0.

Hull finally added a second try in injury time. Kendal were attacking but lost the ball. The ball was moved to the left where there was a long break down the wing, but the player seemed to be looking for support, rather than going for the line himself.

When he was finally stopped, the ball was moved across the field for Hiehetah, to add his second try. Johnson converted again to give his team a 14v0 half time lead.

Despite the lead Hull Director of Rugby Gary Pearce was clearly not happy with his team’s first half performance and the number of errors they were making.

Danny Barker had been injured at the end of the first half and was replaced by Mattie Kaye at half time. This saw another reorganisation, with Dini Noyo going onto the wing, and Kris Bratton moving into the centre.

Hull and Hiehetah’s third try came after seven minutes. Kris Bratton gathered another loose Hull kick ahead and made a long run.

When he was stopped Jacob Sutton was in support to take the move on, and made good ground, but then lost the ball in the tackle.

Hull quickly moved the ball to the right, where Hiehetah bounced his way through a number of attempted tackles to go over. Steve Johnson added the conversion 21v0.

There was a long period of Kendal attack, and whilst the ball was lost, good pressure meant the kick to touch was poor, to keep Kendal on the attack. When the ball was moved from the lineout, Noyo appeared in the centre, and despite being stopped was not held, and wriggled through the defence, to sprint to the line for the try. 21v5 after a quarter of an hour of the second half.

The next Hull try came five minutes later. The Kendal defence had held firm against wave after wave of Hull forward attacks battering the line, but finally the ball was slipped out to left wing Callum Lancaster, who went over in the corner, for his team’s fourth try. Steve Johnson again put over the difficult conversion from close to the touchline. 28v5.

With two minutes to play, despite their large lead, when awarded a penalty following a scrum offence, Hull took the kick at goal, which Steve Johnson converted 31v5.

In injury time, Matty Houghton was finally forced off, and with the final play of the game Hull added a fifth converted try, from short range. 38v7.

For Kendal, the biggest concern for director of rugby Steve Whitehead and his colleagues will be the mounting injury list, with next weekend’s fixture against Birkenhead Park, who despite their position, have recently run both Wirral and Ilkley close.