Scunny go to Hull and back for first win

■ By RICHARD GORE

Hull………………….25pts

Scunthorpe…….27pts

DESPITE a late barrage from Hull RUFC, last-placed Scunthorpe held on to the slenderest of margins, in their season’s first win.

The hosts’ early dominance and final ten-minute charge bookended an error strewn performance, giving their workmanlike visitors the chance to capitalise.

Proceedings started positively for Hull, not least when they secured good scrum possession four minutes in and kept the ball alive for multiple phases. That saw second-rower Alec Renouf plunge over for try near the posts, with off-half Reece Dean converting.

Six minutes later, with Hull in the ascendency, Dean kicked a penalty see his side ten points up and cemented his side’s initial sturdiness.

Scunthorpe soon gave a sign of things to come though, when a sweeping 60-yard move came only to nothing. The final pass, from ten yards out, went to ground.

Hull then managed a carbon copy of that move, when a good break from defence saw Joe Lineham burst over the half-way line. His scoring pass was also knocked on, as seven points went begging.

On the attack: Scunthorpe lock Nicholas Dyson receiving the ball

But Hull kept the scoreboard ticking over, with a well-struck penalty from Dean after 27 minutes, and at 13-0ahead the hosts looked in control.

However, with half-time just five minutes away, the visitors began to get the better of the penalty count. A quick-tap penalty in Hull’s 22-metre area saw their scrum-half Will Dark scamper over for a try, which he converted.

A late penalty from Dark had the alarm bells ringing for Hull, as their comfortable lead was trimmed to just three points at half-time.

The second-half saw the visitors come close to scoring a try from kick-off, but they made no mistake when Dark kicked a penalty almost immediately afterwards to level.

Touching down: Joseph Robinson scoring in the 25th minute for Scunthorpe

PICTURES: David Winn

Darker skies were coming for Hull, as Scunthorpe swarmed back, having fed on Hull’s infringements and penalty awards.

It came as no surprise when Scunthorpe made best use of another penalty on Hull’s line, that Dan Gilbert over for a converted try.

A further try from James Dyson was complimented by Dark again, as the visitors cleanly led by 14 points.

Hull knew they had some hoovering up to do, with some powerful running seeing Scunthorpe concede a penalty. Two neatly done catch-and-drives saw Mike Jobling and Charlie Beech both power down successive tries. With only one Dean conversion slotted over – the latter being a tight angle in the wind – a jubilant Scunthorpe celebrated their first win of the season against their nearest table rivals.