John Mooney: North Hull Knights v Three Tuns
After a last-gasp victory over Three Tuns in the Hull and District Open Age League at Beecroft Street last month, North Hull Knights were expecting a tough afternoon when Tuns visited Shaw Park on Saturday in the BOCM Cup semi-final. However, a brilliant display of clinical finishing led the Knights to a comprehensive 42-18 victory, giving them a massive boost for next week's Bartletts Yorkshire Cup semi-final at Ovenden in the process.
The Knights were off to a flyer, scoring three quick tries to race into an 18-0 lead in the same number of minutes, though the latter score was against the run of play after the visitors had dropped the ball on the final play with the line begging. They did get onto the scoreboard when livewire hooker Louis Sherriff went in under the post with Ben Rowan convering and at 18-6 at the break it looked game on. A superb Liam Welham break shortly after half-time led to a foul which Jak Tuttle took advantage of with a penalty and with a 14pts advantage the Knights really opened up, aided and abetted by some lack-lustre defence from the visitors, who looked to be suffering from last week's battle at East Leeds.
Two quick tries, both converted by Tuttle, took the home side into an unassailable 32-6 lead until a Rowan interception and conversion made the score a little more respectable before two more scores and a conversion continued the rout. Tuns has the last laugh when Carl Pettman went over but the Knights were home and hosed. Liam and Matty Welham, aided by the excellent Ryan Devaney, were in top form for the Knights, who will be heading for Halifax next week with confidence sky-high. Scorers for the Knights were Liam Welham, the speedy Callum Bell (2) and the free-scoring Liam Frennaux (3) with Tuttle adding six conversions to his penalty.
In the Open Age League, the improving Bransholme beat Hull Wyke 30-14 at Cropton Road while Brownies Bulldogs saw off a spirited Lambwath Lions 44-22. Reckitts and Bilton Sullys was postponed.