NURL 1sts – 12
Hull 1sts – 34
NURL prop and zealous engineer Chris Blain had informed the team about the colossal Humber bridge and the foreboding sight was some indication of the mountainous task in-front of Ed Ainscoe’s men.
Newcastle immediately had their teeth on the curb when Stand-off Neil Barrett had to have medical treatment off campus after a wayward elbow to the chin. With John Thompson deputising NURL managed to see out the early pressure from Hulls pack of behemoths and ne’er-do-wells.
In a tight first half Newcastle were first to score after Steve Moorecroft bumped and grinded to the line via four Hull players in an impressive display of power and dance. Duly converted by Thompson, the lead and dominance remained in NURL hands as Hull failed to complete sets. Sadly Newcastle were unable to add to their tally and like Joe Pesci’s vice the Humbersiders applied deadly pressure either side of the break.
The two tries were a massive psychological blow to the Royals and Hull were quick to capitalise on the lethargic defensive line with further scores. The fish town’s rotund stand-off was coaxing mistakes from NURL, popping up all over the place like mushrooms, and boy they made a tasty meal. The Blues continual indiscipline was litigiously punished with the Detective Frost like referee whistling more than Fred Flinstone’s Pelican. The territorial losses were severe with Hull kicking with the wind keeping NURL on the back foot. Moorecroft put in some good defensive work, hitting Hull’s burly prop like a drunken dad when dinners not ready. Sadly the remainder of the Hull pack had not “walked into a door” and they duly managed to touch down thrice more before Newcastle could regroup.
Moorecroft meeting a strong Hull defence
Finally in the Humbersider’s half Michael Ward hit an incisive line before offloading to partner in crime Mikey Bryan whose war of attrition with two markers led to Newcastle’s second try. Unfortunately it was too late for NURL and the dejected team conceded once more at the hands of Hulls impressive centre. His opposite number Dave Goodliffe had a stormer despite some monosyllabic abuse from the feral Hull supporters, seemingly jealous of his 4 limbs and symmetrical face.
The loss was a tough blow for Newcastle who travel to Liverpool John Moores next week for another must win bash-out.