Hull Ionians 31 v 19 Lymm

Hull Ionians v Lymm - More detail, not necessarily more facts.

Ionians bagged a win at the 12th time of asking, 123 days since they last enjoyed the experience in a home victory over Wharfedale. This time visitors Lymm were put to the sword, or more accurately jabbed with a penknife, but enough damage was done to see Ionians through to victory.
They may have played better and lost, but who cares? Certainly not Joe Makin who at the whistle wore a smile that bettered his dad’s. The win brought a palpable sense of relief and the weeks of pent-up frustration was heard to be vented in the dressing room after the match was over.
Ionians made a determined start to the game; they stopped Lymm right on the gain line and strung a solid defensive line right across the pitch. When they got hold of the ball the forwards carried hard, there was a business-like approach that augured well.
After ten minutes Euan Walker surprised even himself with an interception and a blockbusting 40 yard run that took him to within 5m of the Lymm try line. He was dragged down but there was plenty of support (he is a prop after all) and Sam Wilson astounded himself, and his team-mates, when he smashed his way over the line for the opening try. Lewis Minikin doesn’t miss from virtually in front of the posts so the home side took a 7 – 0 lead.
Ionians continued to have the best of play, although Lymm offered a threat, particularly when Oliver Higginson had the ball in hand. On 25 minutes Wilson reverted to type when he stepped out of a tackle and showed a clean pair of heels to all comers, with a scintillating 60 yard run that brought him a second score. It was vintage stuff from the Scalby scorcher. Minikin again added the extras and Ionians were 14 points to the good.
Concentration waivered and Lymm took full advantage. Scum-half Callum Morris orchestrated a patient build up and Lymm put together a number of phases before Stephen Pilkington breezed through a huge gap to go over. Surprisingly, the normally reliable Tom Shard was wide with the conversion attempt, so the hosts led by 14 – 5.
Ionians came back with a break from Sam Pocklington, he lacked support and was penalised for holding on. Shard failed to make touch and Minikin plucked the ball out of the air and returned it with interest up the stand-side touch, Lymm won the line-out but were penalised at the breakdown. Ionians tried a quick tap but Minikin knocked on with the line at his mercy.
Momentum swung back to the Cheshire outfit and they were pressing hard up to the half time whistle. Ionians were relieved to turn the ball over close to their line, enabling Pocklington to punt the ball into touch to bring on oranges.
Ionians pressed from the start of the second half. They held sway in the set piece and were awarded a succession of penalties to keep Lymm captive in their own 22. The hosts elected to scrummage rather than take three points and Pocklington picked and went down the narrow side, feinted to go for the line which create the gap for Minikin to race through and over. He was wide with the conversion but Ionians were now two scores clear at 19 – 5.
It was just as well because Lymm showed they were a long way from being finished. They pushed Ionians back into their own 22 and showed they were more adept than the home side at keeping hold of the ball. The visitors pack battered away and although the defence looked up to the task, Lymm were able to creep remorselessly toward the line, until the exotically named Cashel Chilvers crashed over for a try. Tom Shard put over the conversion to bring Lymm right back into the game.
Ionians then mustered some great rugby to claim two tries in the space of five minutes. The pack upped the tempo and had Lymm back peddling; several forwards drove the ball in and Callum Sanderson was quick off the deck to peel round and power his way through to the line to claim the bonus point try. Minikin added the two additional points on offer to stretch the score to 26 – 12.
The back line then showed that they too could cause problems when line -out ball was swept smartly across the field before being turned back inside for Charlie Kirk to scamper over for the fifth try. 31 – 12 with an hour played, surely that was enough of a lead?
As it turned out it was, though they were a fraught final twenty minutes. The defence stayed as resolute as it had all game. It needed to do, because the visitors dominated possession and managed to cross from close quarters, Nathan Beesley claiming the try. Jack Reynolds took over the kicking duties and added the conversion to pull the score back to 31 – 19.
Ionians did threaten the Lymm line close to the final whistle but were soon back on their own line as the Cheshire men tried one last attempt to get something from the game. Ionians were having none of it and held them at bay until Pocklington launched the ball into touch to signal the end of a compelling contest and bring some relief to the beleaguered management team.
There is still plenty to do to ensure safety but it is a start. The defensive display, in particular, should please the coaching staff and give the team confidence going into the final half dozen games of the season.
Rotherham Titans are up next, dare to dream?

A brief report before something more comprehensive later...
At the 12th time of asking Hull Ionians pulled off a victory that has helped alleviate the threat of relegation. It was the corresponding fixture down Crouchley lane, way back in the middle of October, that began the disastrous run of results that has seen the East Yorkshire side scrambling at the bottom of the league. Hopefully this result will see them turn the corner and help secure their place in N2N.
Ionians started the better of the two sides and opened up a 14 point lead, thanks to a brace from wingman Sam Wilson. However, they seemed to think the game was won and allowed Lymm an immediate response, with Stephen Pilkington exploiting a hole in the home defence to run a try in close to the posts.
The hosts extended the lead with an excellent score early in the second half, but kept Lymm interested with some poor handling which ceded possession, allowing prop Cashel Chilvers to crash over.
Ionians pulled away with two tries in five minutes, Callum Sanderson and Charlie Kirk going over, but Lymm never looked far from causing an upset with some periods when they dominated possession. They managed to pull one try back for Nathan Beesley to pull the score back to 31 -19 but Ionians had their noses far enough in front to hold on for a vital victory.