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Superleague XV - Round 27
4th September 2010
Fourth by the Skin of Our Teeth
Leeds were missing JP, JJB, Burgess, Clarkson and Watkins and had named Senior in the second row for todays
game. Hull FC had injury positives with Long and Horne back at half-backs for the first time in many weeks.
Hull had a weeks rest while we were humiliated at Wembley. If the game was going to be won in the packs then on
paper we were in trouble.
Early fruitless breaks for Horne and McGuire were all that there were to show for the opening ten minutes and
then the game exploded. Bailey tried to free himself from a tackle with his elbow using Radfords head for
leverage. Radford didn't like it and got four unanswered punches in to Baileys head before Buderus dragged him
off. Ian Smith went for straight red for Radford, while Bailey went to the blood bin to get cleaned up. Hull
down to twelve for seventy minutes. The pendulum seemingly swung in our direction.
On twenty-two Briscoe broke the deadlock and got the games opener as Hull threw the ball right and he came
in-field to score. Tickle added the extras and we were 0-6 behind.
Three Good
Kicks
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On thirty-two Delaney knocked-on from a low Sinfield pass. Hull took full advantage as Fitzgibbon broke the
line and offloaded to Washbrook who went over next to the sticks. Tickle added the two. We were twelve down,
and we'd not really threatened the FC line.
It was like last saturday all over again, but this time against twelve men. The nightmare was continuing.
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The second half was three minutes old when Blueys half-time dressing room paint-stripping took effect. Rob
Burrow threw a wide ball to Donald who crossed in the corner. Kevin Sinfield converted superby from the
kick-off and we were back in it a 6-12.
On fifty we kept the ball alive brilliantly and Lee Smith looked to have gone over in the corner but video
referee Alibert tossed his coin and it came down in Hulls favour, 'NO TRY'.
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On sixty we were punished for messing about at the play-the-ball and Fitzgibbon goaled from twenty metres out.
It was now 06-14 and Sinfield compounded the situation putting the kick-off out on the full.
Four minutes later and a Burrow break gave us great field position and McGuire benefitted darting through a gap
and stretching out to ground the ball on the line. Sinfield added the two for 12-14.
There were fifteen minutes left, game on.
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Ran Hard
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Sixty-nine minutes and Danny McGuire was the hero of the hour, perhaps the season. Sensational footwork
followed a Buderus pass and he touched down one handed under the sticks. Sinfield added the extras and we hit
the front at 18-14 with ten minutes to go.
On seventy-three McGuire stole the ball on the Leeds line in a one-on-one as Hull looked certain to score. It
was as good as a try.
We played out a very nervous last seven minutes, both sides making many mistakes and as Hull put in a last
ditch kick Donald collected it and the hooter sounded.
We'd dug deep, it wasn't the best performance, and Hull did brilliantly with twelve players for seventy
minutes. We are missing the big forwards that we've relied on throughout the season, the pay-off series is
going to be tough.
This was really hard work, and with Huddersfield Giants winning in the south of France a loss tonight would
have meant a sixth place finish. We won, and we're in the top four with two bites at the cherry. Wigan next
weekend at the DW, now we're in the thick of it, bring it on.
Man of the Match Poll
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Points | Player | % |
10 | McGuire | 80% |
8 | Leuluai | 13% |
6 | Buderus | 7% |
See here for season standings.
Match Facts
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No.
|
Player
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T
|
G
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DG
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No.
|
Player
|
T
|
G
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DG
|
|
1
|
Webb
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|
|
|
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24
|
Hall
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
Donald
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1
|
|
|
|
3
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Briscoe
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1
|
|
|
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3
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Delaney
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|
|
|
|
9
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Berrigan
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|
|
|
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28
|
Smith
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
Yeaman
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Hall
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
Lyne
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|
|
|
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6
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McGuire
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2
|
|
|
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6
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Horne
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|
|
|
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7
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Burrow
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|
|
|
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7
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Long
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|
|
|
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8
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Leuluai
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|
|
|
|
10
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O'Meley
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|
|
|
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9
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Buderus
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|
|
|
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20
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Houghton
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|
|
|
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16
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Bailey
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|
|
|
|
11
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Radford
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|
|
|
|
4
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Senior
|
|
|
|
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16
|
Manu
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|
|
|
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18
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Ablett
|
|
|
|
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12
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Tickle
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2
|
|
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13
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Sinfield
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3
|
|
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13
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Fitzgibbon
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1
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
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17
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Kirke
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|
|
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14
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Washbrook
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1
|
|
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15
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Eastwood
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|
|
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17
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Cusack
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14
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Diskin
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23
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Moa
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12
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Lauiti'iti
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19
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Turner
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Kick Off:
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16:30
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Half-Time:
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00-12
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Referee:
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Ian Smith
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Crowd:
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16,208
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