The Dentist Wilf: If anyone’s interested  Enter a legend and a Wally! Sunday 4th December 1983     Hull 32-Wakefield Trinity 16 There are times in the course of being a life-long follower of one Club when you remember that on a particularly significant occasion, “You were there”. There when it happened, there when history was made and there when you simply couldn’t imagine being anywhere else in the world. Often it’s Cup Finals and critical, last gasp, wins in successful seasons that offer these fleeting glimpses of perfection, but sometimes it’s just about a monumental episode in the history of your Club. That day at Belle Vue was for me at least, one such occasion. There we were stood amongst around 4000 Hull fans on the open Western Terrace frantic with expectation, as out ran Hull FC and Peter Sterling, his hands swathed in bandages and his long blonde hair blowing in the wind. Of course, all the talk in the West Riding City was about Wally Lewis making his debut for Trinity but in the end it was Hull FC that spoilt the party, as led by Sterling we took the home team apart.     After just a couple of days in the Country and at just 22, Sterling produced a magnificent debut to lead us to victory. Our team that day was a mix of young and old, as the continuing injury crisis at the Club bit into our reserves of playing strength. Without six regular first teamers and several players that were on International duty, Hull knitted together surprisingly well and Keith Tindall, at 36, and returning after 15 months absence, was a revelation. Indeed we even had a Trialist winger playing on the right.        However, it was Sterling that ran the show and despite a bright opening from an obviously inspired Wakefield side, he took all the plaudits at the end of the day. Lewis was outstanding in the first quarter particularly when executing some brilliant cut out passes to set up attacks (one of which I swear cut out four players and went like a bullet) and we soon trailed 8-0 before Phil Edmonds scored a try off a brilliant ‘scissors’ pass from Sterling. Then Mick Crane opened Wakefield up with a massive side step and sent Evans racing on an arc and in for a try, but a Geary try right on half time saw the scores tied at 16-16 at the break.        The second half was all Hull as Dannett, Evans and Banks scored tries, each of which was engineered by Sterling. Lewis retired after 70 minutes, but ‘Sterlo’ played out the whole game, as we ran out winners 32-16. It was a moment to savour as our new hero came over to receive the adulation of us fans and I can still see him now waving to us all, before taking the bindings off his hands and throwing them into the crowd. Despite only playing 8 games in that spell at the Club and a further 28 the following season, we’d see a lot more of Peter Sterling who was to become a legend of the FC.        The early part of 1984 saw him leading Hull to success on the field as we went on a seven match unbeaten run. Sterling was an instant hero with all the fans and quickly became a local personality, being followed everywhere (even on his regular visits to the local casino) by an entourage of autograph hunters and ladies. He was a real hero who I always wanted to meet and I had my wish granted one night in the Casino when after numerous pints I came face to face with him and said, “Your Peter Sterling” to which he replied, “I know” and that was it really.  Roamin' The Range Together Book 2  Watch the highlights of Sterling's Hull FC debut  https://youtu.be/vZ__tBDVjoc?si=vX7f0f38GojJIJTC

The Dentist Wilf: If anyone’s interested  Enter a legend and a Wally! Sunday 4th December 1983     Hull 32-Wakefield Trinity 16 There are times in the course of being a life-long follower of one Club when you remember that on a particularly significant occasion, “You were there”. There when it happened, there when history was made and there when you simply couldn’t imagine being anywhere else in the world. Often it’s Cup Finals and critical, last gasp, wins in successful seasons that offer these fleeting glimpses of perfection, but sometimes it’s just about a monumental episode in the history of your Club. That day at Belle Vue was for me at least, one such occasion. There we were stood amongst around 4000 Hull fans on the open Western Terrace frantic with expectation, as out ran Hull FC and Peter Sterling, his hands swathed in bandages and his long blonde hair blowing in the wind. Of course, all the talk in the West Riding City was about Wally Lewis making his debut for Trinity but in the end it was Hull FC that spoilt the party, as led by Sterling we took the home team apart.     After just a couple of days in the Country and at just 22, Sterling produced a magnificent debut to lead us to victory. Our team that day was a mix of young and old, as the continuing injury crisis at the Club bit into our reserves of playing strength. Without six regular first teamers and several players that were on International duty, Hull knitted together surprisingly well and Keith Tindall, at 36, and returning after 15 months absence, was a revelation. Indeed we even had a Trialist winger playing on the right.        However, it was Sterling that ran the show and despite a bright opening from an obviously inspired Wakefield side, he took all the plaudits at the end of the day. Lewis was outstanding in the first quarter particularly when executing some brilliant cut out passes to set up attacks (one of which I swear cut out four players and went like a bullet) and we soon trailed 8-0 before Phil Edmonds scored a try off a brilliant ‘scissors’ pass from Sterling. Then Mick Crane opened Wakefield up with a massive side step and sent Evans racing on an arc and in for a try, but a Geary try right on half time saw the scores tied at 16-16 at the break.        The second half was all Hull as Dannett, Evans and Banks scored tries, each of which was engineered by Sterling. Lewis retired after 70 minutes, but ‘Sterlo’ played out the whole game, as we ran out winners 32-16. It was a moment to savour as our new hero came over to receive the adulation of us fans and I can still see him now waving to us all, before taking the bindings off his hands and throwing them into the crowd. Despite only playing 8 games in that spell at the Club and a further 28 the following season, we’d see a lot more of Peter Sterling who was to become a legend of the FC.        The early part of 1984 saw him leading Hull to success on the field as we went on a seven match unbeaten run. Sterling was an instant hero with all the fans and quickly became a local personality, being followed everywhere (even on his regular visits to the local casino) by an entourage of autograph hunters and ladies. He was a real hero who I always wanted to meet and I had my wish granted one night in the Casino when after numerous pints I came face to face with him and said, “Your Peter Sterling” to which he replied, “I know” and that was it really.  Roamin' The Range Together Book 2  Watch the highlights of Sterling's Hull FC debut  https://youtu.be/vZ__tBDVjoc?si=vX7f0f38GojJIJTC

Yeah only here for the 83 season I think. 

Unfortunately I can't see us getting the win tomorrow, Rovers are a good side and don't seem to have a bad game in them. They'll start fast and if don't match them it could be game over by half time.


Think they'll look to exploit our weaknesses on the edges with our centres and second rows not being great.


Can see JC going big to start with a big bench and hopefully try and batter them through the middle, errors and penalties will be key.

They'll be motivated without a doubt but I don't think it'll be enough. Realistically we need Rovers to have an off day which they've rarely done in the last couple of seasons. They have their own motivation in that it'll be a big step towards ending their trophy drought.


Hopefully it won't be another home derby humiliation and we get through unscathed with a tough run of games coming up in the league.

I've not looked forward to a derby for some time like i am for tomorrow. I'd be saying the same if this was the Good Friday game and we didn't have them tomorrow. The fact it is the cup, my first cup derby, makes all the more exciting. So long as we show the resilience we've seen this season I'll keep the faith we can win.

Stuart Vass