Round 18
Hull FC 48 d. Salford City Reds 26

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Airlie News - Hull FC v Salford City Preview
Fri July 27, 2007
Source: www.hullfc.com

Hull FC coach Peter Sharp takes a look at Sunday's match with Salford City Reds at KC Stadium on Sunday (3:15pm).

After top six rivals Wigan Warriors were deducted four points this week for a salary cap breach last season, Hull have a chance to move into fourth place.

A victory over former coach Shaun McRae's City Reds will take Hull above Wakefield and Warrington who are immediately above them in the table.

Following their shock win over Bradford Bulls last weekend, Salford, who are fighting for their Super League survival, can't be taken for granted and with a number of key players out injured Hull are by no means at their strongest.

With three straight wins under their belts confidence is pretty high in the Hull camp and Sharp is hoping that confidence and the versatility of his squad will make up for the loss of some influential players.

"We are certainly not taking anything for granted at the weekend," said Sharp. "Salford is desperate for points in their fight to stay up and a victory at the KC would take them off the bottom and give them a big psychological lift for what will be a crunch match the following week against Hull KR.

"Despite their position on the ladder they have some quality and dangerous players in their team and we will have to be fully focused.

"This is also an important game for us because having won our last three games we want to keep this run going.

"With Wigan losing four points we have jumped into the top six and a win at the weekend would help us cement that position. Make no mistakes we have plenty to play for ourselves."

Sharp was very pleased with his sides performance in France last weekend and he described Hull's 34-18 victory over Catalans Dragons as "One of our best of the season."

He added: "We have been showing a steady improvement and I felt we carried that into our game in France. We were strong in the forwards and against a big French pack that was important, our defence was solid and I also felt we looked much better offensively."

Hull's victory came at a cost because centre Kirk Yeaman has already been ruled out with an ankle ligament injury and wingers Gareth Raynor (ankle) and Matt Sing (foot) are under treatment.

With the likes of Shaun Briscoe (broken jaw), Garreth Carvell (groin), Wayne Godwin (broken foot) and Richard Swain (retired) already out Sharp can do without further casualties.

Despite the loss of key players he said: "Okay you'd rather not be in this position but we are and what we do have is a lot of versatile players in our squad.

"In a situation like this you need players who can play in several different positions and fortunately we have a number who can.

"You could say we're lucky, although that's not a word I would really use. But we do have players who can multi skill and play in two, three or four different positions.

"Having those skills is very important in the modern game and for us the adaptable skills of the likes of Motu Tony, Danny Washbrook, Richard Whiting, Richard and Graeme Horne, Tommy Lee and Craig Hall particularly, are going to be invaluable.

"If we hadn't these players in our squad then we would be in real trouble."

The one piece of good news is Australian half-back Mathew Head looks set to make his long awaited home debut.

Head injured his AC joint on his derby debut against Hull KR and has missed Hull's last two games against Harlequins and Catalans.

But he is confident of playing, and said: "I expect to play at the weekend and I am really looking forward to the game.

"I haven't come here to sit in the stand and it has been frustrating for me because I just want to get out on the field and play."

Head has helped out although he hasn't played and Sharp said: "Matty has had an input and I think he has helped Richard Horne and Tommy Lee.

"He's a clever player, he's experience and to have him back on the field will be a real boost for us."

Head added: "I'm out of contract at the end of the season so it is important for me to play. I'd need to impress someone, hopefully Hull because I'd like to stay here."

SQUAD:
Burnett, Dowes, Hall, Head, G Horne, R Horne, Houghton, King, Lee, Manu, Maiava, Raynor, Radford, Sing, Tickle, Ashley Thackeray, Tony, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Whiting.

OFFICIALS:
Referee: Phil Bentham
Touch Judges: P Marklove R Stokes
In-Goal: R Cowling, S Tordoff
Match Commissioner: Gerry Kershaw

MILESTONES:
Shaun Briscoe is two games short of his 100th for Hull FC

Gareth Raynor is still looking for his first try at the KC Stadium this season

Kirk Yeaman is six games away from his 150th and needs four points for 300

Richard Horne needs one point for 400

Garreth Carvell is four games away from his 150th Hull appearance. He has made 61 starts and come off the bench 85 times. He also needs 12 points for his 100.

Motu Tony is 16 points away from his 100.

Paul King needs 15 more points to hit the century mark

Danny Washbrook is seven games away from his 50th

Danny Tickle's five goals against Catalans took him on to 51 for the club

BIRTHDAYS:
No Hull player has a birthday in August.

September:
Kirk Yeaman - 15th
Danny Washbrook - 19th
Danny Houghton - 25th

INJURY NEWS:
Shaun Briscoe - broken jaw, has had two bands removed. Will not now be back for St Helens; target now Warrington the following week, August 12.

Wayne Godwin has his pot off on Monday and hopes to be back for Warrington home game.

Garreth Carvell - groin injury, target St Helens

Kirk Yeaman - ankle ligaments

Shayne McMenemy out for season after shoulder operation

ON THE MOVE:
Former skipper Richard Swain returned home to Australia last Wednesday.

LEADING POINTS SCORERS:
TRIES:
10 - Craig Hall
10 - Matt Sing
8 - Shaun Briscoe, Richard Horne
7 - Kirk Yeaman, Danny Tickle

GOALS:
51 - Danny Tickle
20 - Craig Hall

POINTS:
130 - Danny Tickle
80 - Craig Hall

LAST SIX HOME SUPER LEAGUE GAMES:
2006:
August 20: Hull FC 11, Salford 10

2005:
May 1: Hull FC 21, Salford 6

2004:
May 2: Hull FC 82, Salford 6

2002:
August 25: Hull FC 60, Salford 16

2001:
September 9: Hull FC 40, Salford 8
March 4: Hull FC 46, Salford 34

News sent by: www.hullfc.com


Yeaman out of Sunday's clash against Salford
Thu July 26, 2007
Source: www.hullfc.com

Centre Kirk Yeaman has been ruled out of Sunday's Super League game against Salford City Reds at the KC Stadium (3:15pm) with an ankle ligament injury, but Hull FC are hopeful of having Australian half-back Matty Head back.

Yeaman was one of three players to pick up injuries in last weekends 34-18 victory over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan, wingers Gareth Raynor (ankle) and Matt Sing (foot) are currently under treatment.

A decision on Raynor and Sing won't be made until later in the week. Hull is monitoring their injuries and is awaiting further medical reports.

Coach Peter Sharp said: "We're checking their progress daily and won't be making a decision until the last possible minute. I'm not ruling then in or out at this stage.

"As for Kirk he's out this week and we'll check his progress next week and see how he goes. At this stage I'm not in a position to say how long he will be out and I think it is wrong to speculation.

"We'll wait until we have all the relevant information at our disposal and then see where we are."

After joining the club from St George-Illawarra, Head played just 35 minutes of his debut game against Hull KR before injuring his AC joint.

He has missed Hull's wins over Harlequins and Catalans but he is quietly confident he'll be fit for Sunday, and Sharp said: "Matty has a good chance of coming back at the weekend."

Head's return would be a real boost for Hull, who is already without Shaun Briscoe (broken jaw), Garreth Carvell (groin), Wayne Godwin (broken bone in foot) and Richard Swain (retired).

News sent by: www.hullfc.com

Wed July 25, 2007
• No Favours From McRae Against Former Club
  
Fri June 29, 2007
• Hull FC v Salford City Super League Match - Called Off
  
Fri June 29, 2007
• Hull FC rush Head into starting side for Salford clash
  

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