DMPRFC 52 v HULL RFC 7

Hull RFC were the visitors and although similar to DMPRFC in that they are ravaged by injuries, they were expected to pose a few questions of the home side, as they look to amass enough league points to steer themselves away from the basement area of the league.

However, in a one-sided first half, DMPRFC racked up five tries without reply, with Hull rarely able to vacate their own half.

Versatile full back Max CONNON was first to score after seven minutes, when after a short side break by scrum half Andrew SMITH, the ball was passed to lock Talite VAIOLETI who took the ball into the heart of the Hull defence, before finding centre Callum MACKENZIE, who offloaded to wing Shaun McCARTNEY. He scurried towards the line and when held up, the offload to the supporting Max CONNON was enough (5 – 0). Fly half Tom HODGSON added the conversion (7 – 0).

From the re-start the ball was regained by DMPRFC and a smart pass found lock Pierce PHILLIPS who found the gap to race 40 metres for the score, outstripping Hull’s defensive backs in the process (12 – 0).

Hull tried to get into the game, but were unable to sustain enough possession to mount any kind of scoring opportunity.

DMPRFC were dominant at the scrum, but some home lineout ball was wayward, enabling Hull to clear their lines on occasions.

DMPRFC were consistently exerting pressure on the Hull defence and it was only a matter of time before a series of pick and drives from the forwards brought rewards, as Andrew SMITH fed prop Henry SANDYS who crashed over near to the posts (17 – 0). Max CONNON took over the kicking duties from Tom HODGSON, who took a knock and easily converted (19 – 0).

Things were looking ominous for Hull and it was not a surprise that the try bonus point arrived, when fellow front row colleague Ralph APPLEBY scored from a catch and drive lineout (24 – 0) just before the half hour mark. The score was added to by Max CONNON (26 – 0).

It was all DMPRFC by this stage and although Hull defended doggedly, there always seemed to be that extra man for the home side to offload to in the tackle, with debutant flanker Anthony HARRISON always at the breakdown first.

Just before oranges, a rare Hull attack saw the move break down into DMPRFC home territory and as the ball squirted out Cameron MITCHELL broke out of defence, ably assisted by the ever supporting presence of Rory DUFF who made more metres before offloading the scoring pass to winger Chris McTURK who raced in for the try (31 – 0). Max CONNON converting (33 – 0).

So as the players disappeared down the tunnel for oranges, Hull appeared shell-shocked and in need of some wise words from experienced coach Kerry Wood, who was unable to play in the game due to an injury sustained last week in their win against Otley.

The inevitable changes were made by both teams after oranges, which occasionally does interrupt the flow of the game, with players having to immediately adapt to conditions and tempo.

Lock Glen YOUNG and utility back Gavin PAINTER joined the fray at the expense of Pierce PHILLIPS AND Tom HODGSON, with PAINTER slotting in at full back and YOUNG into the engine room.

Accordingly, the game took a while to spark into life, but things may have changed slightly, when after further front row home replacements were added, prop Josh BAYFORD had only been on the pitch for 2 minutes, when he was red carded by the official for an offence of foul play, witnessed by the assistant referee.

This dilemma was absorbed by the home side, as when scrum time arrived, winger Shaun McCARTNEY had to be sacrificed in order for Henry SANDYS to return and put in a further shift at the coalface.

When normal service was resumed, replacement hooker Ross DONEGHAN stripped the ball from an opponent and released a waiting attacking line, who took full advantage of uneven numbers out wide, allowing scrum half Andrew SMITH to race round from 25 metres to dot down under the posts (38 - ). Max CONNON added the extras (40 - 0).

Although the game had eluded them early on, to their credit, Hull came back at this stage and scored a good converted try (40 – 7).

Two late tries from DMPRFC put the final seal on proceedings.

The first from Max CONNON, after a scintillating break by scrum half Andrew SMITH beat the wavering Hull defence and with only one defender remaining, CONNON was on hand to take the scoring pass (45 – 7). CONNON regained his composure to convert his own try (47 – 7).

Hard working No. 8 Guy van den DRIES nipped in at the death for a well deserved score (52 – 7).