27 January 1923

FEAST OF SCORING AT THE BOULEVARD

Though Hull were able to start upon their fifth century regard to point collecting, it can hardly be said that the thirteen points which favoured Hull at the close of their game with Featherstone  supplied a true reflection of the merits of the rival sides. At the interval, only the odd point in 25 scored separated the opponents' total, whilst at three-quarter time there was only a difference of five points in the Hull and Featherstone totals, and this margin again was on the side of Hull.  Fortunately for the Boulevard side, when the game was in this critical state, Caswell and Howlett were able to add further tries, and as the last of these scoring efforts was converted by Stone, Hull's winning total was therefore able to assume quite respectable dimensions.

To the credit of the visitors, it must said that the Colliers gave quite a refreshing display. Three men in the Hull side. Batten, Caswell and Taylor, made all the difference between victory and defeat. Judging from what we saw of the Colliers at the Boulevard there is little wonder that they have already won two more matches than fell to their lot during the whole of last season. Furthermore, I am informed that there has not been game played this season where Featherstone have not obtained at least one try. It was very skilful the manner in which Hirst, the Featherstone right centre, cut through the Hull defence to register his couple of tries. Incidentally it might be mentioned here that the arrangement of the Featherstone players was not as stated, for Tait and Hirst occupied the right wing with Mason and J. Denton on the left. Others in the visiting team to create a favourable impression were Williams and Kirkham, an exceptionally fine pair of half backs. The game had not been in progress many moments before Wynard sent the visitors ahead with nice goal. It was a rousing forward attack that carried play to within the vicinity of the Featherstone line, and when Humphries nipped over in very little room for Stone to add the extra points, the Hull centre created a favourable impression.

SEESAW GAME

Tait returned the ball inside for Hirst to make " rags " of the defence for Wynard to regain the lead for the second time, only to see it lost again few moments later by the wonderful ability of Batten, who sent Stone over in the left hand corner in the most approved international style. There was again only a point separating the teams until Caswell, with splendid effort, shot from the base of the pack, and over the line without an opponent even touching him. This was sheer individual brilliance on Caswell's part. That try and Stone's goal concluded Hull's scoring for first half, but not Featherstone, who added a further five points through a brilliant long-distance run by Hirst, and another clever goal by J. Denton.

Included in the "star" turns during the first half were number of terrific runs by Taylor, who seemed determined to reach his score of tries tor the season, which number, I believe, is a Rugby League record for a forward. The English forward achieved his object in the second half.  The ball seemed to be seeking a resting place for a moment, when Taylor solved the difficulty, to the credit the Youths, however, they stuck well to their task, and were further encouraged by the fine penalty of Wynard's. This was the state of affairs at threequarter-time, just prior to when Gywnne had taken full advantage of Batten's "cross-over" service to score in the extreme corner. From a perusal of this report it will seen that Batten had supplied both Stone and Gywnne with their scoring chances, after the nonpareil centre took the ball from the opposing halves and sent Caswell straight on his way for that nimble half back's second try, and the sixth of the match. The seventh try was well scored by Howlett, the ex-Norwood forward giving the "dummy" nicely before planting the ball over the line.

Hull Daily Mail 29 January 1923