Stunning comebacks see Hull and Harrogate record victories

Despite enjoying early pressure, Nuneaton’s defence held firm and, after 10 minutes, the home side took the lead through a penalty from stand-off Lee Chapman.

He added two further penalties before full-back Elliot Brown finished off a fine move to go over for a converted try and make it 14-0 to Nuneaton.

On the half hour mark, Harrogate’s effort was finally rewarded with some points. Ed Smithies cleverly gathered his own chip ahead at pace, Mike Aspinall carried the move on and kicked into space on the right where winger Will Heylings outstripped the home defence to score for a try converted by Aspinall.

Brown was again the extra man to score for Nuneaton but, under pressure, Nuneaton eventually went offside and an Aspinall penalty made it 21-10 at half-time.

After the restart, Harrogate were initially on the defence before a James Tyson run eventually set up Jack Latus, who dived over in the corner to create another successful Aspinall conversion.

A quickly-taken penalty put Will Heylings clear and his try edged Harrogate ahead.

The final try came from loose-head prop, Jack Bergmanas, who bulldozed his way over the line.

HULL dug deep to turnaround a nine-point deficit with a sterling performance in the last 20 minutes.

It was the visitors’ ability to their big impact players from the bench in the final quarter that finally ground Luctonians down and saw Hull triumph where only one other club has registered an away victory this season.

Hull started the game brightly enough and it took just five minutes before Hull’s attack was illegally halted and fly-half James Cameron struck with his first of three first-half penalty kicks.

He repeated the exercise seven minutes later, but a good forward drive saw Paul Hulland credited with Luctonians first try.

Fly-half Will Burton missed the conversion before Cameron’s third penalty – for a high tackle – saw Hull 9-5 ahead.

Burton closed the deficit to one point before the break with a penalty when Phil Murphy was yellow-carded.

The second half saw the home side take full advantage of their numerical superiority and score two unconverted tries in five minutes.

The first was straight from the kick-off with Charlie Meredith going over after some slick passing. A yellow card for Hull’s Matt Rhodes followed, signalling another Luctonians try by Hulland.

Hull’s defence then held the home side at bay and when Hull were restored to full-strength the momentum of the game changed.

After 64 minutes a catch and drive saw Hull’s No 8 Oliver Cook credited with a try and although Cameron missed the conversion, he put his side within a point of the home side with 69th-minute penalty.

Then, a fine break from Hull’s Wigglesworth from full-back saw Ben Dorrington backing up superbly to take the pass and dive over near the corner.

With Hull dominating, it came as no surprise when in the last move of the game another catch and drive saw Hull’s Cook awarded the try and Cameron’s touchline conversion was the last act of a game.