Sheffield Tigers 10 v 17 Hull Ionians.
A nithering wind greeted all who gathered on Dore moor for the game between Sheffield Tigers and Ionians. Only the respective packs were any warmer by the end of a keenly contested affair, after the Ionians forwards showed the resolve and determination, so sadly lacking during much of the last away fixture, to quash the physical home eight.
Despite the very early loss of the talismanic James Sanderson and a poor return from line-out possession (pedantically over-seen by the officials), the Ionians forwards were able to provide enough possession for their superior back line, complete with a hastily convened half-back pairing of James Thompson and Sam Pocklington, to create more clear-cut chances than the hosts. Tigers were heavily indebted to Greg Mellor in the opening half and particularly Barney Goatley at the finale for two excellent covering tackles to deny Ionians what looked like certain tries.
Ionians made a solid, if unspectacular, start. They attacked into the bitter wind and had the better of territory and possession during the opening quarter, noteworthy for some robust defending and highlighted by a Lewis Minikin break and a characteristic bullocking run from Declan Thompson.
It was to be Thompson’s last contribution as he departed minutes later to the dug-out and then Sheffield General, in an incident that brought a yellow card for Connor Scott.
There were a few half breaks, but nothing incisive or decisive until the half hour when Minikin gathered a long pass from Jack Townend just outside the Ionians 22. He left winger Graham in his wake before drawing in Mark Ireland and passing out to Sam Wilson, who hared away up the touchline. It looked a nailed on certainty that Wilson would extend his record tally only for Mellor to appear from nowhere and bundle him into touch five yards short of the line.
Both sides then spurned chances to open the scoring with some thrilling back play being let down by a poor final pass. Ionians continued to look the more potent side; a move launched deep in their own half set Townend clear only for the move to be thwarted by a deliberate knock on.
Right on half time Ionians broke the deadlock. For once a line-out was deemed to have gone straight and Ionians drove forward, with George Mewburn making invaluable ground. Quick ruck ball was swept up the blind-side and Townend was on hand to power over. A wonderful conversion by Minikin sent Ionians in to the break 0 -7 to the good.
It was only five minutes into the resumption before Tigers made a reply. The pack took a line-out ball and mauled their way diagonally up the field. A number of the backs joined the drive and as they got close to the line Jamie Broadley broke away and drove over close to the flag. The normally reliable Ireland was wide with the goal attempt so Ionians held on to a slender two point lead.
With little to choose between the sides in this keenly contested game it was no surprise that when Ionians were awarded a penalty they elected to go for three points from the tee rather than risk another line-out and Minikin duly obliged to stretch the lead to five points.
One would imagine James Thompson would rather be Ben Bell’s understudy than be labelled as a utility back but a re-shuffle saw him move out to the wing to demonstrate his versatility and undoubted potential.
Almost straight away he put in a determined run that resulted in a penalty to Ionians and a line-out 5 yards from the home try line. Alex Campbell rose to gather and Ionians rumbled to the line with Ally Forth burrowing over for the try. Minikin was again on target to stretch the lead out to 5 – 17 with quarter of an hour to play.
That appeared to be the end of it as neither side could break the shackles of some outstanding defensive work. A twist to events came with five minutes remaining. George Mewburn, excellent for Ionians, was despatched to the bin. This gave Tigers the fillip they needed. Ireland launched the ball to the corner and Dan Hawksworth leapt to gather the throw. The drive was held so scrum-half Ryan Holmes took charge and popped a pass to Mellor who broke clear to score.
From the re-start Ionians had one final go. Minikin made the initial break before moving the ball to Tom Bullough. He held the ball to draw players in before setting Thompson away down the touch. He looked to be going over in the corner before Goatley intervened to put him into touch with a magnificent tackle. That brought a fitting end to a match dominated by good defensive displays.
Ionians just deserved victory by dint of having the edge in crucial areas; better game management, a bit more pace and flair, but as the score suggests, it was close.
Every team has to contend with injury and unavailability. It is part and parcel of the game. However, it deserves recording that this win was achieved without nearly half a team of regular starters, including the rumbustious Alan Hudson and the mysteriously unavailable Ben Smith. Then there was the loss of James Sanderson within a minute of the start. So, hats off to Ally Forth, who scored a try and lasted the full eighty minutes, Kobby Opoku Fofie who came on for Dec Thompson and despite not playing much rugby down in London gave his all for the best part of an hour, Sam Pocklington for filling in at off-half and James McDaniel for providing some backs cover in I’s hour of need. It really is becoming the stuff of Ripping Yarns.