Hull Ionians 33 v 20 Sheffield Tigers.
Ionians got back to winning ways with a bonus point victory over current N2N basement side, Sheffield Tigers. I’s made hard work of it; they dominated the ball during the opening half, but actually went into the break three points in arrears, after spurning enough scoring opportunities to win half a dozen games (ok, they would be low scoring affairs and may also have needed to kick a few penalties, but you get my drift…).

Fortunately, the home team were much less wasteful in a more evenly contested second half and added four tries, with a mixture of good luck and better judgement, to run out worthy winners.

The experiment of adding Lucas Powell, broken nose and all, into the second row to improve line-out options didn’t have the desired effect. Despite the continuing problems in this set piece facet of play, I’s were steady in the scrum and made a decent start.

They got onto the front foot with some strong carries from Ben Stephenson, Alan Hudson and George Mewburn, with Josh Britton careening on through the midfield and the early onslaught gave Lewis Minikin a pop at goal (following a high tackle) but the long-range effort drifted just left of the up-rights.

Very much against the run of play Tigers’ winger, James Norman, evaded his marker to run away down the far touch but he hadn’t the pace to reach the line and Jake Boardman chased him down and a poor offload gave Ionians the ball, which was cleared to touch.

Ionians were soon back on the attack and a break from Britton seemed certain to put them on to the scoreboard only for the final pass to evade Sam Pocklington.

Britton was soon at it again, brushing off all comers, before setting James Sanderson off on a run. He had Hudson in support but the move broke down after poor handling, reprieving the Tigers again.

For half an hour Ionians dominated proceedings without registering a single point. Tigers then escaped their own half for only the second time in the match; a line-out was cleanly gathered and the drive went on. Although it was held up short of the line Mark Ireland put a kick across in the direction of winger Norman. He was stood abandoned by all and had plenty of time to gather the wayward kick and cross for a try. Ireland, unerring as ever from the tee, added the extra points and Tigers had a seven-point lead.

The home side put the disappointment behind them. From a scrum on half way the ball was slung out to Britton and he clattered through the first line of defence. Ben Smith looped round to keep the move alive and he picked out Will Yates, who charged through a couple of tackles and carried on down his wing. Crucially he put in a nicely weighted pass back inside to Pocklington, who sped away to score. Minikin added the conversion to level affairs.

As the break approached the hosts generously handed the initiative back to Sheffield. An obvious and blatant handling in the ruck gave Ireland another go at goal, and he duly obliged. The visitors went to oranges with a barely conceivable three point lead.

It was only a matter of minutes before Ionians snatched back the advantage.

Ionians, unsurprisingly, failed to claim clean ball at a line-out but it bobbled about and Pocklington was on it in a flash. A feint, a shimmy and he cut through the fossilised forwards and was away. Veteran second-row, Joe Makin, put his vast experience and extensive reading of the game to good use and materialised up in support to take a pass and canter over the line to score.

Ionians looked as if they had gone further ahead when Mewburn got over the line, following a catch and drive, but the effort was chalked off and Sheffield dropped out from under the posts.

Ionians soon got retribution. Tigers took the ball into contact but lost possession, Ionians countered with Minikin setting Jake Boardman free down the stand-side touch. As the cover converged Boardman kicked in field and as Sheffield deliberated over who should deal with it Britton popped up to snatch the ball and dot down. Neatly done. Minikin stroked over the conversion and Ionians had a bit of breathing space.

Sheffield were still offering a threat; the direct running of Barney Goatley, introduced into the centre, had an almost immediate effect when a bustling run drew in the defence to give Jamie Broadley a yard of space to operate. He encouraged Yates to come in off his wing, allowing Broadley to put Louis Brown clean away to the line. Ireland struck true from the tee and Sheffield were back within touching distance, 21 -17.
Ionians had brought on replacements of their own, including the newly sponsored Sam Edwards (Thanks to Applegarth and Applegarth, commercial and domestic plumbers. Other plumbers are available but aren’t as good, probably) and Jimmy McDaniel.

McDaniels’ introduction had the desired effect. Within minutes of his arrival, he had extended Ionians’ slender lead. He finished off a fine move that had started with a clean line-out take by Kobby Foffie. The pack drove on before the maul split in two and Mewburn powered for the line. He was held up short but quick transfer to the blind-side picked out McDaniel and he skipped past a couple of tackles before sliding over.

When the home side were caught off-side Mark Ireland stroked over a long range penalty to bring Tigers to within six points and the chance of a bonus point, they were keen for even more as they applied an increasing amount of pressure on the hosts.

Ionians held them off and as the game entered the final stages, they made the result safe with a fifth try. Josh Britton, who had been in the thick of the action all afternoon, charged down a clearance kick, Callum Sanderson latched onto the ball and charged on. The forwards rolled on until Mewburn capped off another fine performance with the touch down. Minikin goaled for a final score of 33 -20.

The victory lifts Ionians into the top half of the table (just). Although it was a creditable performance, they can ill afford to be so profligate. Tigers showed that they are not a bad side, equally their league position indicates that there are no poor sides in the division.

A trip to the dales is next up before a well-earned rest. Threshfield is always a challenging place to play but I’s have enjoyed some success there over the years, let’s hope so on Saturday.