Fylde welcome the players, officials and supporters of Hull RUFC to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00). Our visitors sit proudly at the top of National Two (North) and, whilst the amply contoured lady is yet to sing, they look almost certain champions of the division with promotion in touching distance. Another seven league points will secure the title. They arrive at the Woodlands with their last setback being at the end of October, a run of 17 successive victories. 27 fixtures in all and just two defeats, at Stourbridge (19-17) and Rotherham Titans (20-15). This great consistency has been founded on by far the best defensive record amongst the 16 N2(N) clubs, conceding an average of just 12 points per game.
Hull have a huge and dominating pack and a devastating driving maul technique when they get close to the opponents try line. Fylde put up a brave and determined show at the Ferrens Ground on 11th December before going down by 22-14. Our reporter Simon Taylor wrote: “Hull’s success was built on a huge and experienced pack, particularly in the front row. This resulted in a much higher penalty count, particularly at the scrum, also a possession bias that ultimately Fylde could not overcome.”
If Fylde want to challenge Hull then the lessons are pretty obvious. Fylde have put in some excellent, totally committed, disciplined and focussed performances this season such as against Stourbridge and Rotherham Titans at the Woodlands. This will have to be replicated if they hope for success on Saturday. The power of the Hull pack is complemented by a solid and dangerous backline and a very competent goal kicker.
Hull RUFC has an interesting and, at the time, a controversial origin. In the spring of 1989 Hull and East Riding RUFC merged with Ionians RUFC to form Hull Ionians RUFC. The new club took Riding’s league status in Division North One. The 28% of the Riding membership who voted against the merger reformed the club as Hull & East Riding RUFC (1989), and were given membership of Yorkshire Division Six, the bottom tier of Yorkshire county rugby union. Hull RUFC were formed on July 1st 1992 as a result of a merger between Old Hymerians RUFC and Hull & East Riding RUFC (1989). Old Hymerians were formed in 1925 while the Riding could trace their origins to 1901. From being in the shadow of Hull Ionians originally, our opponents today are on the threshold of reaching National One, level three in the RFU league hierarchy, for the first time.
Fylde and Hull have met just six times in league action and the East Yorkshire club shade the bragging rights. In 2009-10 Hull won a double victory, 31-25 at the Ferrens Ground and 16-25 at the Woodlands. This was reversed the following season when Fylde won 37-8 at home and 9-31 away. The clubs didn’t meet again until the truncated 2019-20 campaign when Hull, off the back of a winless run of 8 games, shook N2(N) leaders Fylde at the Woodlands with a 20-22 victory. The reverse fixture at the Ferrens was caught up in the early abandonment of the season in mid-March 2020. Finally, there was the 22-14 Hull win in December this season.
Hull’s Head Coach is the very experienced Gary Pearce and he has built a loyal squad of players. The most well known star of the pack is the veteran and much travelled Tongan international backrower Latu Makaafi. Before his current spell at Hull, he’s spent periods at Bradford & Bingley (2 seasons), Hull (1 season), Wharfedale (1), Doncaster Knights (2), Rotherham Titans (1), Jersey (1), Doncaster K (2) & Coventry (2).
The Hull pack includes other quality, experienced personnel including Ali Thomson (ex-Sheffield Tigers, Rotherham, Doncaster K & Hull Ionians), Portuguese international prop Mike Dias (ex-Rotherham, Sheffield Tigers & Hull Ionians) and flanker Laurence Cowan (ex-Ionians and Birmingham Moseley). The overseas strand in the squad is represented by prop Tiploma Kivalu, ex-Steelers ITM (NZ), Counties Manakau (NZ), Chinnor, Coventry & Otley. A more recent acquisition is fellow Tongan countryman, centre Iosefo Turaga (ex-Marr Rugby in Scotland).
Against Fylde in December were “two man-mountain starters, Tipiloma Kivalu and fellow prop Michael Jobling, but also the two huge Hullensians, Ben Boothman and Charlie Beech who came off the bench when the starters needed a rest. A team that can bring Beech off the bench, a 15-year former professional player who has Wasps and Bath on his CV, is clearly well-blessed in their front row assets.” [Simon Taylor]
The playmaker and principal goal kicker is Simon Humberstone, formerly of Pontypridd, Cardiff Blues and Doncaster Knights. The dangerous running backs include winger Mike Adlard and fullback/winger Steve McColl, both of whom scored crucial long distance tries in their victory over Fylde at the Woodlands in November 2019. Adlard has had a fine season and is in equal 4th place in the N2(N) try scoring ranking alongside Tom Grimes with 23, but behind Matt Gallagher (Sedgley Park) and our own Tom Carleton with 32 and 29 accordingly.
NB: The Fylde v Hull RUFC game has been chosen by the National League as the feature game for their video Highlights Show this weekend. Not only showcasing two fine teams to a wide audience but giving more exposure to our loyal sponsors and advertisers.
