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Hull FC vs Widnes (A) 32 - 18 W |
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11/05/08
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Stobart Stadium |
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Ronnie Laughton
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Widnes Vikings
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32 - 18
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Ambitious Widnes gave Hull a real test and pushed them to the limit
before a try by man of the match Adam Dykes nine minutes from time
sealed a victory for coach Peter Sharp’s men.
Dykes, a doubt before the game, scored twice and also had a hand in three of Hull’s other four tries.
Hull started the game well when Dykes produced a wonderful little kick
through which saw Raynor take full back Hardman in goal and force a
drop out. Hull pressed well and had a good chance when Manu had Hall
and Raynor outside but decided to go alone and was held up over the
line.
They came again but this time Byrne couldn’t take Dykes’ pass with a
great opportunity to go through and then the danger signs flashed as
Widnes broke on their left and Smith linked well with Hill as Widnes
showed no fear to spread the ball wide and fast. Unfortunately for
Widnes Hill’s pass to Dodd was forward as the winger burst dangerously
inside. Hull responded magnificently with Dykes putting Manu into a gap
and then the scrum half supported to take the return and score. Hall
added the goal to give Hull a 6-0 lead.
Immediately Hull handed possession back from the kick off and it almost
cost them as Grady was held up just short and Berrigan put Hull back on
the attack with a superb 40-20 and then the hooker went desperately
close to scoring.
Widnes were not going to give Hull and easy passage and they played
some enterprising football and forced a drop out of their own which
they scored from when Beswick forced his way over after 15 minutes.
Dodd added the goal to level the scores at 6-6.
Sing produced an outstanding clearing run after 20 minutes and gained
40 metres. Raynor took Hull forward another 25 metres and from the
position Dykes was again the star as he linked with Whiting who waited
for Byrne to arrive before putting the full back in and Hall landed an
fantastic touch line goal to put Hull 12-6 ahead.
Again it was Dykes who opened the Widnes locker with a great pass to
Raynor who brilliantly picked up his low pass. Raynor managed to stay
in touch and find Hall who also did well to stay in touch and the
centre found Burnett to score.
Hall couldn’t add the goal but Hull led 16-6 before they again gave
away possession from the kick off when this time Washbrook made the
error.
Fortunately for Hull Smith sent out a poor pass which Crookes couldn’t take.
Berrigan gave away a penalty inside the Widnes 10 and Hull paid the
price when the home side went up field and Paterson stepped round some
sloppy defence. Dobb kicked the goal and Hull’s lead was cut to 16-12.
Raynor did not appear after the break. Two minutes into the second half
and Hall continued his love affair with the Challenge Cup when he
finished off a 90 metres move. It was Whiting who started it with a
magnificent break after taking Paterson’s kick, he reached half way and
then released Hall who backed himself to beat Hardman. Hall could not
add the goal but Hull led 20-12.
But for the third time Hull handed away cheap possession from the kick off but fortunately Gaskell knocked on.
When Grady knocked on Dykes’ crossfield kick but Hull took three one
man drives and did not stretch the Widnes defence until the sixth when
they eventually lost possession.
With 51 minutes gone Sing covered a kick well but was then pushed into
the corner barrier by Dodd who was put on report but the winger had to
go off and Hull were now without both their first choice wing men.
Four minutes later after a Dykes kick had gone straight into touch
Widnes closed the gap when Draper beat off some poor tackling to score
and Dodd’s goal left the score at 20-18 to Hull.
Almost on the hour Manu came up with a blockbusting run to score after
Berrigan and Dykes had combined well with the scrum half sending the
second rower inside on a powerhouse run. Hall restored Hull’s eight
point lead at 26-18.
With 65 minutes gone Manu almost charged through for his second try and
from that set Hull force a drop out and had it not been for Hardman
Yeaman would have scored from a Radford pass who was then replaced by
Sing.
With nine minutes left Hull made a quarter final spot certain when
Dykes brilliantly took advantage of an excellent play by Hall to score
his second try. Hall added the goal to push Hull 32-18 ahead.
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| Byrne; Sing, Yeaman, Hall, Raynor; Washbrook, Dykes; Dowes, Berrigan,
Cusack, Manu, Radford, Whiting. Substitutes: Lee, Houghton, Thackray,
Burnett. |
Hardman; Gaskell, Crookes, Grady, Dodd; Paterson, Duffy; Morrison,
Smith, Gannon, Hill, Donoghue, Beswick. Substitutes: Yates, Draper,
Bowman, Kavanagh. |
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