With heavy rain throughout and a light breeze, it was surprising how well the game flowed. Some ambitious rugby was on display by both sides, with relatively few handling errors for the conditions. During the opening fifteen minutes, several exchanges of kicks characterised the game, with some snappy passing in evidence.

Preston Grasshoppers' strong defensive work held true, and their play maker Greg Smith broke the deadlock with a successful penalty kick after twenty three minutes. The remainder of the first half demonstrated a pattern of interplay between backs and forwards of each team.
Half time Hull 0, Preston 3.

Hull regained parity with their own successful penalty kick by stand-off Reece Dean on 53 minutes. After some enterprising overhead passing, flanker Scott Richardson broke through the Hull defensive line, and further passes resulted in Jacob Browne rounding the final two defenders and leaping over the try line for five points. Smith's successful conversion made it Hull 3, Preston 10 on the sixty third minute.

This score seemed to bolster Hoppers' confidence and good discipline and steely defence were the order of the rest of the game, as Hull sought parity, in vain.

Final score: Hull 3, Preston Grasshoppers 10. The outcome was a good and fair reflection of the match, during which Hull refused to give up.

Both fly halves deservedly won their respective Player of the Match awards, with Hoppers' Smith possibly showing a touch more class. Hoppers' head coach Dan Orwin was delighted with his players, and was of the opinion that Preston's hard work in training was paying off, demonstrating excellent defensive work and improved discipline, and the outcome against a side that is always tough to crack, especially at their home ground, was well deserved.

John Freeman