There used to be a time when Hull (that's the old Hull, not the conveniently forgotten merged Hull) was a team full of hard men who'd batter you into submission. However, in Super League these days it seems that standing your ground and putting the big hits in is frowned on.

Undoubtedly under pressure - and having seen his side matched and pummelled for 80 minutes - Hull coach Peter Sharp was first with his hand in the bag of excuses after this pulsating cup tie.

"It was a bit of a circus", he whined, producing a small onion: "I didn't think that the other team played in the true spirit of the game." A Hull coach complaining that the game was TOO hard? What sort of world are we living in these days?

But long before his delicate flowers had become slightly bruised, Hornets had indicated that they weren't just here to make up the numbers. After just six minutes a wayward pass from fading ex-origin rake Shaun Berrigan was snaffled by Chris Forster who left a flailing Gareth Raynor in his wake to sprint 80 metres and give Hornets a deserved lead. The home fans went potty: the Wilbutts lane side somewhat quiet.

Hull kicked the restart into the Sandy Lane end. Laughable, really. Sensing the odd squeaky sphincter in the Hull ranks, Hornets took the game to the visitors: Daves Newton and Best banging the ball relentlessly into the Hull line; Paul Alcock and Craig Farrimond playing a hard-hitting supporting role in the second row.

After 20 minutes of impotent jabbing, Hull finally strung three passes together as Dykes threaded Wheeldon in by the flag. Tickle v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y added the extras.

But Hornets weren't phazed. Kicking deep nto Hull territory, the visitors coughed the ball under pressure and Hornets' Jim Elston sneaked over a last tackle drop goal to take the score to 6-5. Absolutely nothing in it.

With the risk of an upset too great to bear, referee Mr Dawber intervened and the penalties against Hornets began clocking up. Over finicky at the ruck - and, seemingly allowing Hull to loiter in the tackle for as long as they wanted, Hull were gifted 40, 50, 60 metres at a time. And, whilst the Hornets defence was steadfast and resolute, the pressure told as Hull scored three quickfire tries through Raynor, Houghton and Thackray to go in 24-5 up at the break. And, be sure: it flattered them.

Just three minutes into the second half, Dave Best's request that the referee keep an eye on Hull's somewhat agricultural tackling techinique was met with a sin-binning. But Hornets pressed forward. With the Hull defence back-pedalling, a long speculative pass by Sam Butterworth was intercepted by by Hall. Despite Eric Andrews' high speed recovery chase, Hall had just enough in the tank to find the supporting Raynor who scored in the corner.

But Hornets weren't quite finished. Recognisng that Andrews probably had the Hull wide men for pace, Jim Elston then launched a teasing kick into the hole behind their defence, but the ball beat all of the chasers as it ran dead in goal.

And, with Hornets' gargantuan effort starting to take its toll, Hull added further scores from Dykes and the all-but invisible Yeaman.

Having not had their way for 70-odd minutes, the Hull forwards spat the dummy late on. Firstly Cusack spat the dummy after a big hit from Dave Newton, then Tickle exactd retribution by kicking Newton on the ground at a play the ball. The home fans fully expected the red card, but when it real mattered, Mr Dawber bottled it and settled for a bit of finger wagging.

Incensed by the inconsistency that can see one forward sin-binned for 'talking' and another let off for kicking a pkayer on the ground, Bobbie Goulding gave vent to his anger. Mr Dawber saw his chance to make an example of a 'big name' and sent Goulding off from the dugout. Pathetic in every sense.

In the aftermath Goulding said of his charges: "One to 17 they have busted a gut. They have been outstanding and I can't speak highly enough of them. If we can produce tat evel of performance again, we will be a force to reckon with in NL2."

As for Peter Sharp, he goes back to trying to coax his team away from the bottom of Super League. On this showing, it could be a hard season on Humberside.

But not too hard, eh, Pete?