A fantastic game of rugby and a great example of sportsmanship!

This sunny winters day saw Hull Ionians Women heading to York RI for their first game of 2022. Everyone was eager to get back on the pitch after a few weeks off and that certainly showed in the numbers available for the game.

The first try of the match (and her first try ever!) came 15 minutes into the game from treasurer Rachel Beck (4), driving the ball over the try line and adding the first points to the score board.
5-0 to Ionians following a narrow miss from Sammy Temple (11).
York RI retaliated quickly, following up with a try of their own, taking the score to 7-5, showing this really was going to be an evenly matched game in both physicality and points.

After some very close calls, seeing the likes of Charlotte Harrowing (1), Zoe Kayne (7), Emma Cunningham (5) and Chloe Brocklebank (10) battling towards the try line, it was clear that York’s defence was a force to be reckoned with.

After gaining ground due to some fantastic runs, Kat Turner (? doing what she does best, took a pick and go from the back of the scrum, battered her way through their forwards, closely followed by Chloe Brocklebank who received the offload.
Seeing the gap, Chloe scored our second try of the match. Sammy Temple then stepped up to convert the try, taking the score up to 12-7 to Hull Ionians Women at half time.

Going into the second half, Hull Ionians Women were back in business with some fantastic pod work from the forward, but with 3 penalty kicks awarded to York RI in total, the score went up to 13-12 to York RI, making this a very tense second half.

Hull Ionians Women once again showed what they could do defensively, upping the momentum in attack to edge closer to Yorks RI’s try line as the time was running out. An effort that saw all 15 players fighting their way towards that final try.
Unfortunately a penalty to York RI in the final moments meant Hull Ionians Women couldn’t quite gain another try to seal the win, ending the game at 13-12 to York RI.

Forward of the match was awarded to our captain Kat Turner, back of the match to Chloe Brocklebank and oppositions player to our Vice-Captain Zoe Kayne.

Overall, a fantastic game of rugby and a great example of sportsmanship and teamwork by all.
We wish York RI the all the best in the rest of the league.