Leeds Tykes 66 v 15 Hull Ionians

Leeds demonstrated their credentials to be N2N champions with an emphatic victory over Hull Ionians in the leafy suburbs of Yorkshires second city. The home team full-back, Kieren Davies, hit 8/10 off the tee but in every other sense he produced a 10-star rating, with some prodigious kicking out of hand and scintillating running that frequently shredded the visitor’s defence. His pace earned him two tries and also set up scores for a number of his team mates.
The hosts were more than a one-man team though; they delivered a well-disciplined, 15 man display that saw them quell the early efforts from Ionians, establish control and a relatively comfortable half time lead, before really opening up and showing why they are the best team in the league.
They were helped to some degree when talisman Makin was yellow carded, when they ran in three tries, but anything other than a heavy defeat was wishful thinking from the Ionians supporters.
It was not that Ionians didn’t give it their all. Once again, as last week, the back row was exemplary and outshone the opposition. They had a lot more to do defensively, but never shirked their responsibilities and also carried hard and strong in attack. The front five backed them up, especially in the opening half, but the effort eventually told against a well drilled pack who spent more of their time on the front foot.
Ionians re-jigged the back line for this match, trying Will Yates in the centres and introducing James Thompson and Alfie Celella onto the wings. It was a tough ask for them; they did little wrong and should not be judged solely on this performance. Leeds had too much fire power for the backs as a whole. Though Sam Pocklington was as alert as always to bag a try, Ionians lacked the pace and precision of their opponents and had no-one who could put boot to ball like Davies.
There were some within ear shot who questioned why Ionians should kick at all, a moot point given the lack of direction and distance achieved, and certainly they looked better and more comfortable running at Leeds with ball in hand.
It took Leeds quarter of an hour to prize open the Ionians defence. It was Davies who started the move, fielding a kick and running through the I’s midfield before being hauled down. The ball was swept out to Charlie Venerbles, who crossed in the corner.
Ionians got onto the scoreboard when their first piece of sustained pressure won them a penalty and Lewis Minikin obliged off the tee.
Ionians failed to clear the re-start and Davies made them pay, cutting through before giving Seremaia Turagabeci a clear run to the line. A well struck conversion from the touchline put Leeds 12 -3 up.
Davies was soon at it again. Receiving the ball just in his own half he feinted right and left, then turned on the burners to run clear before picking out one of several support runners, on this occasion Jacob Mounsey, who crossed for a third try for the hosts.
Ionians came back into the game with a period of decent rugby. They won a line-out 10m out and after trying to maul the ball to the line they then changed tactic and swung the ball across the field where Minikin swept into the line and stepped through a gap to score. He was unlucky with the goal attempt, the ball coming back off the upright, but I’s had cut the deficit to 17 -8 with half an hour played.
Leeds claimed the bonus point try, and closed the half, with a catch and drive score for hooker Aarin Yorke. Davies added the conversion to give the home side a 24 -8 half time lead.
It wasn’t long into the second half before Leeds repeated the move for Yorke to claim a second try. Ionians then lost Makin to the bin and Leeds and Yorke rubbed salt into the wound by adding a third close quarter score, quickly followed by Davies’s first try, when he finished off a 30 yard break from Tom Williams.
Ionians responded with a try from Sam Pocklington. Having introduced some fresh bodies to the fray I's were able to push the hosts back into their own 22. They launched a drive for the line and when the maul collapsed Pocklington was quick to seize the chance and nipped up the blind side and scurried over for the score.
Ionians were unable to build on their achievements, indeed they conceded a try almost immediately, as they allowed Mounsey to add a second try to his personal tally when he burst through some feeble tackling to run through and away. The conversion from Davies took Leeds over the 50 point mark with still 15 minutes to play.
Leeds used the time profitably to add two further tries, one from Davies who capped off a flowing move and a fine individual performance and one for Will Hardwick on the stroke of full time.
It was an excellent performance from Leeds and a chastening experience for Ionians. Fortunately no other team in N2N has the quality of the Tykes and Ionians showed, in patches, they have the wherewithal to garner sufficient victories to move away from their current parlous position.
The fight starts next week against Sheffield Tigers at Brantingham Park, see you there.