Hoppers at Hull

Date: 07 January 2013

Hull vs. Preston Grasshoppers – Kick Off 2pm

Team News

With no injuries from last weekends encounter at Brantingham Park to concern him, Head Coach Michael Lough keeps faith with the starting line up but makes just a couple of changes on the bench, Alex Austin and Lewis Allen replacing Eddie Webster and Michael Haley.

1. Chris Gale, 2. Alan Holmes, 3. Richard Morton, 4. Gareth Gore, 5. Ali Murray, 6. Conor Murphy, 7. Will Keenan, 8. Dominic Moon, Captain. 9. Sam Kindred. 10. Karl Fitzpatrick, 11. Adam Birchall, 12. Jack Ward, 13. Phil Baines, 14. Matt Hughes, 15. Sean Taylor.

Replacements: 16. Brad Tuff, 17. Alex Austin, 18. Craig Aikman, 19. Lewis Allen, 20. Andy Irving.

Preview

As Hoppers head east once again this coming Saturday, they’ll be hoping for a change of fortune after a run of four consecutive defeats, three of which whilst on their travels.

Sean Taylor attempts to break free from a couple of Hull tacklers whilst Phil Mills, Will Keenan and Nathan Fowles look on in anticipation – Pictured by Mike Craig.

The Ferens Ground in Hull will be the venue and hopefully a first ever win there will get their season back on track. However, the hosts will be looking to avenge their biggest defeat of the season back in September at Lightfoot Green when Hoppers ran out comfortable winners, fifty five points to twelve.

Hull had a disastrous start to the season, losing their first five games before going into a win a few lose a few mode. Like Hoppers last week, Hull suffered defeat at the hands of their closest rivals Ionians two weeks ago before losing in a high scoring game last weekend at Luctonians.

Hoppers know what to expect from this weeks opponents where their big pack of forwards will try to dictate the pattern of the game.

As mentioned earlier, Hoppers have yet to come away with the spoils at The Ferens Ground having lost on the previous three visits with just a single losing bonus point to show for all their efforts. They had better luck at the Hull outfit’s previous ground, Haworth Park, where they survived a late attempt at goal during the promotion season of 2004/5 in North 1.

Games due to be played at Lightfoot Green this coming Saturday include our 2nd’s who had an impressive win at Caldy last weekend in the first fixture of the condensed set of games playing host to Macclesfield in Conference A while our table topping Third XV will be playing Ashton-on-Mersey 2nd’s and the Fourths entertain Aldwinians 3rd’s.

On Sunday, the Senior Colts are due to play Lymm at home whilst their junior partners will be visiting Manchester.

The next home game for the First XV will see Westoe  as visitors on the 19th of January with a 2.30 kick off time.

Link to ground directions if you are travelling by car to Hull:http://hullrugbyunion.co.uk/

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