Rugby League Challenge Cup St Albans Centurions 16 Hull Dockers 42 ST Albans Centurions fought well against the experienced outfit Hull Dockers on Sunday in the Rugby League Challenge Cup but Cents were playing their first competitive match in five mon

Rugby League Challenge Cup

St Albans Centurions 16

Hull Dockers 42

ST Albans Centurions fought well against the experienced outfit Hull Dockers on Sunday in the Rugby League Challenge Cup but Cents were playing their first competitive match in five months and their inevitable lack of match practice and fitness proved too big a handicap.

From the kick off, Hull Dockers made their intentions clear with a series of storming, powerful runs and it was unfortunate for Cents that, after only four minutes, star centre Oli Fountain had to leave the field for twenty minutes with a badly cut eye, sustained in his first tackle.

Hull surged ahead 12-0 and Cents suffered a further blow when international prop Andy Lake suffered a knee injury in the tackle, forcing him out of the match.

Cents had to show strong resolve and a try-saving tackle from Chris True folloed by a burst up-field from Andy Weldon gave the St Albans side some encouragement. They were also helped by mistakes from the Hull side, who dropped the ball with the line begging on a couple of occasions.

On 25 minutes, very much against the run of play, St Albans got on the score sheet when Dan Wortley kicked through, gathered and slipped the ball to Russ Kellaway to make it 12-4.

Hull conceded three penalties as Cents stormed forward with surging runs from Paul Maloney and Jon Warner.

After the restart, St Albans dominated and Lewis Padmore, who had a fine game, powered through. Dan Wortley forced a Hull drop out and Paul Maloney, on a trademark run, broke through to slip the ball to debutant, Joe Brace. Brace twisted in the tackle to score his first try for the club. When Craig Foster's kick made it 12-10 after 50 minutes, the Cents were back in the game.

Dockers had to respond and scored three tries in quick succession through Henry, Pickering and Batty, all converted by the excellent Stephenson to put the Hull side out of sight at 30-10.

The Cents were now looking very tired and fatigue meant that they weren't coming up in a defensive line as strongly as they might. All the Hull passes were now sticking and further tries by Sellars and Brewer made it 42-10.

There was a late consolation try for St Albans scrum half, Kristian Warner, converted by Foster but the afternoon belonged to Hull Dockers.

Centurions: Foster, True, Fountain, Kellaway, Milsom, Rampling, K.Warner, Lake, Cox, J.Warner, Maloney, Padmore, Wortley, Weldon, Brace, Chapman.