Hunslet Warriors vs Hull Dockers - match report

Steve Milne’s last minute try lifted the Hull Dockers off the foot of the table in a 24 – 20 victory over fellow strugglers, Hunslet Warriors.

The Warriors went into the game having snatched a last minute win themselves two weeks ago against Wigan St. Patricks.

The weather played its part making the game riddled with mistakes throughout the entire 80 minutes.

Chris Stephenson, the Dockers half-back, was hugely influential assisting three of his side’s five tries converting two of them.

A second half Lee West double wasn’t enough to make it back-to-back wins for the south Leeds outfit.

Heavy rain in the opening half an hour reduced the skill level for both sides. Nathan Kitson opted to kick for goal from a penalty 40 metres out, but failed to raise the flags.

Four minutes later, the Dockers opened the scoring. Jon Eccles collected Stephenson’s short pass to barge his way over.

The home side hit back three minutes before the break and nudged themselves ahead from a Luke Pennington converted try.

Swiftly after the half-time interval, Stephenson’s cut out pass sent Richard Lamplough over to restore their lead.

Soon after, the Dockers got some breathing space ahead of their Yorkshire rivals. Stephenson’s dab to the in-goal area was touched down by his half-back partner, Andy Kay.

Down by eight, Hunslet got back within touching distance. Daryl Gaunt’s pass to Chris Hartley gave the right side some space. Hartley sent over his winger, Danny Cahill to cross with Kitson adding the extras.

The heavy rain made the ball too greasy to handle. Lee West was punished for dropping the ball when Arron Bradley scooped it up and touched down next to the posts.

However, West atoned for his earlier sin when he grabbed back-to-back tries within the space of ten minutes. Kitson’s kick to the corner wasn’t dealt with by the Hull defence and gave West an easy score.

Supporters may have thought they were seeing double when West went over again. Kitson’s bomb wasn’t diffused by the Dockers and West got his brace. Kitson failed to convert both tries from the sideline.

With the game locked up at 20 a piece going into the final minute, the Dockers made good use of the football, flinging it to the right to break down field. Kay’s kick was gathered by a fellow Hull team-mate and given to Steve Milne to seal victory just before the final whistle.