Stunning late try seals win for leaders
A LAST-MINUTE try from Mike Adlard secured a stunning win for Hull as they maintained their lead at the top of the table at the expense of their stunned visitors.
Rotherham started this top-of-the-table clash well and had plenty of possession, and as early as the 11th minute had a golden opportunity to score when they created room in Hull’s 22 but a dropped pass saw the chance go begging.
The visitors had also spurned a couple of penalty chances in favour of line-outs and catch and drive attempts but were unable to trouble the scoreboard.
It was after 24 minutes that Hull, aided by an error by the visitors, found themselves in possession in their opponents’ half, and a kick-through bounced off the legs of a Rotherham player and was kicked forward by full-back Reece Dean, who was able to control the ball and score an unconverted try.
Hull then started to gain the upper hand with their forwards driving at the Rotherham line.
A series of scrums in Hull dominated saw the home side end that sequence of play with a penalty try and a yellow card for Rotherham prop Rikki Stout after 33 minutes.
Rotherham had the opportunity to capitalise on a late line-out near the Hull line, but the hosts held out to go in at the break 12-0 in front.
The second period began well for Hull when their captain Simon Humberstone kicked a penalty in the 48th minute to nudge further ahead.
Hull were dominating the scrums and seemed in control, but Rotherham had other ideas.
A penalty from Matt Minogue was followed by a period of sustained pressure by the visitors.
A try by Tom Richardson put Rotherham right back in the game after 57 minutes and, when Minogue slotted over the conversion, it was Rotherham who were in the ascendancy only five points adrift.
Worse was to come for Hull as Rotherham continued to press and a penalty try award after 69 minutes saw the visitors leading for the first time.
And with Hull having had forward Ben Boothman yellow-carded, it may have looked as if Hull’s winning run was coming to an end.
With the final whistle approaching, Hull made the most of some possession and, after a line-out deep in Rotherham’s 22, the forwards drove on and, when the ball was released, full-back Reece had the vision to see winger Mike Adlard in space on the left.
His precision crosskick was gathered by the winger to race over for the decisive score.
Rotherham had only a minute to stage a comeback, which was not enough, and it was Hull who prevailed in a dramatic and close game as befitted the top two sides in the division .