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Wharfedale RUFC
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8:25 AM 27th January 2025
sports

Match Report: Hull 32 Wharfedale19

Ed Williams has been reporting for the Yorkshire Times, part of the p.ublished group of online newspapers, on his local club, Wharfedale RUFC

Photo Wharfedale RUFC
Photo Wharfedale RUFC
A very disappointing performance by Wharfedale in East Yorkshire meant they travelled back to the Dales without a point. Hull thoroughly deserved this victory, and the margin could have been bigger. Hull played the much better rugby; their ball retention and movement around the pitch was excellent. They controlled the match with seeming ease and after some early setbacks even had parity in the scrum. When Dale did get the ball, they did put one or two phases together before a mistake gave the home side more possession.

Hull’s first try was typical of how they played the game. After early kicks were exchanged Hull were back in their own 22. Dan Stockdale charged down a kick and with a bit of luck he could have regathered the ball and gone on to score. Instead, Hull started to go through the phases and after 22 patient, well organised phases they were deep in Dale territory. They then created an overlap and Ex Hull RL and American RL international, Bureta Faraimo, touched down for Hull’s first try. New Zealander, Faraimo, caused problems for Wharfedale all afternoon. Fynlay Hobson slotted the conversion.

Hull’s poor discipline allowed Dale to slowly get into the game. Penalties soon racked up and, even though Dale were careless in possession, the visitors had chances to attack the Hull line. From a lineout in Hull’s 22 the forwards drove hard with Tom Beresford getting the score. Sam Gaudie, added the conversion to level the score.

photo Wharfedale RUFC
photo Wharfedale RUFC
Dale gathered the restart and another box kick sent down field. It was taken by the Hull defence who used the space to start another attack. More patient work followed with good ball retention and organisation. Hull players were on hand to support the ball carrier and either to take an offload or to stop the jackal. 17 phases later Adam Brankley restored Hull’s lead with a converted try.

If Dale could not manage to put together fluent passages of play it was more indiscipline by the home side that gave Dale territory and possession. Even then, Dale did their best not to score by squandering chances. Eventually a second try came. Again, from a driving maul after a 5metre lineout. Dan Stockdale being driven over for an unconverted try to leave the score Hull 14 Dale 12 at halftime.

Things did not improve in the second half. Dale started by giving away possession and penalties. Hull had an attacking lineout and a poor throw lead to a try. Evergreen prop, Charlie Beech, was standing at the back of the line trying to hide his slender frame. The ball was overthrown and Beech took the ball and sprinted in from 5 metres to score. Hobson kicked the conversion and added a penalty a few minutes later.

Dale’s woes continued to mount. A pass into touch, a penalty kick into Hull’s 22 didn’t find touch, more knock-ons. Hull thought that they were getting some late Christmas presents. Man of the Match, Faraimo, stretched Hull’s lead with his second and secured a bonus point. Hull’s professionalism was questioned by their own fans when Hobson had to go and retrieve the ball and his kicking tee failed to arrive. Running out of time he tried a drop-goal which fell short.

Dale carried on in the same vein giving up the ball twice in their own 22 and then allowing Hull to create another overlap for Josh Ratovou to score. No conversion but the game was now well out of reach for the visitors.

Dale’s first effective turnover came near the end of the match and led to an attacking line out. Oli Cicognini managed to make the score look reasonably respectable with a converted try.

One to forget and things to redress back at the Avenue before next week’s trip to Tynedale. The lack of atmosphere at the Hull ground seemed to be copied by the players. There was no energy on the pitch, there was not the fire and determination to dominate, there was no eagerness to entertain, there seemed to be little pride in the green shirt. One thing that makes me proud of the lads is that after the game they were all humble enough to know that things had been bad and to apologise to the faithful who had made the journey over to support them.

To end on a positive note. Two Dale supporters won prizes on the raffle and the lads won the boat race!



Wharfedale Bullough; Hamilton, Prell, Cicognini, Bullock (Kaup-Samuels 33); Gaudie, Riddiough; Dickinson (Meehan 74), Stockdale (Collinson 64), Armstrong, Stockton, Hedgley (c), Pinder (Weston 66), Fawcett (Burridge 20, Dickinson 76), Beresford.