Hull Ionians 50 v 14 Tynedale
Conditions couldn’t have been any better for the return of first team rugby to Brantingham Park; a beautiful warm, sunny afternoon greeted spectators to the pristine surroundings, Sleck Dust flowed freely from the patio pumps and smiles spread across familiar faces. Social distancing was a slowly fading memory.
There was some concern as to how well the squad would settle to the return to competitive action (last week’s performance and result suggested the omens were good) and how the new look back line would function against traditionally tough opponents.
Home supporters had to wait all of a minute to find out.
Ionians made a purposeful start with the pack charging into contact before releasing the ball to the backline. Scrum-half Charlie Kirk switched play down the narrow side and a well-placed grubber kick gave wingman Wilson a clear run to the line.
The home side seemed to be absolutely bristling with intent, none more so than James Sanderson, who burst onto a pass and broke through some pretty ordinary defending to gallop 40 yards to score. Ben Smith added the goal and the hosts had an early 12-point advantage.
There was no respite for Tynedale. Ionians added a third try after eleven minutes when good handling and interplay swept the visitors aside and a re-invigorated Ben Stephenson was on hand to take the final pass and cross close to the posts, giving Ben Smith an easy task for the extras and Ionians a healthy 19 points lead.
The fourth try arrived after 16 minutes of play, courtesy of the outstanding Lewis Minikin. George Mewburn was the architect of the move; having gathered an errant kick he despatched would be tacklers like a bar-room brawler before off loading to Charlie Kirk whose crisp distribution gave Minikin the room to cruise away to score. The missed conversion was a minor blemish but the hosts pocketed a bonus point and extended the lead to 24 points.
Ionians continued to dominate possession and territory, Smith kicked a penalty to the corner and a successful catch and drive was driven over the line but Ionians were unable to get the ball to ground.
Tynedale cleared the ball up field and were able to gain a line-out just inside the home 22. Not for the first time the hosts stole possession but inadvisably elected to try and break away from close to their own try line, the ball went to ground and the Tynedale backrow pounced onto the loose ball. Several close quarter drives were repelled before a change of tactic from Outson produced a well-judged chip over the defence for winger Guy Pike to outpace prop Bell and win the race to dot down. Jon Burden converted to pull the deficit back to 24 – 7. Five minutes later half time arrived.
Ionians were straight back to business at the re-start. A line-out was cleanly taken and set 15 yards from the visitors’ line, four-wheel drive was engaged and Chris Morton was in the driver’s seat to steer the maul over the line for his first try for the club. Minikin took over the kicking duties and obliged with a routine conversion.
Three minutes later Minikin grabbed his second try. After collecting the kick-off Ben Stephenson went on a bullocking run, brought to ground he set up good ball which was whipped across field to Lewis Minikin, who sped past a bewildered defence to score, he then added the goal to give Ionians a 36 -7 lead.
There was no respite for the harassed Tynedale side. The Ionians pack were rampant and provided more quality possession. Ben Smith floated out what appeared to be a speculative pass into open space; it was in fact exquisitely weighted and precise as fullback Will Edwards arrived at just the right moment to collect the ball and speed away to score.
The men from Hexham stiffened their resolve and diligently worked the ball into the Ionians red zone. A commendable, if predictable, passage of pick and drive eventually wore a hole in the home defence allowing scrum-half Jack Outson to wriggle over for their second try, Burden converted to give them a glimmer of hope and lift the score to 43 – 14, with quarter of an hour remaining.
There was no fairy tale comeback for Tynedale. The home pack established camp in the Tyne’ 22. They elected for a scrum from a penalty award and drove their opponents back over the line, a re-set led to a near similar result but the ball came free and was chipped deep into the in-goal area. Paul Evison needed all of the space available to outpace the cover and ground the ball. Minikin’s successful kick brought up a half century, leaving both sides to play out the remaining minutes in anticipation of the final minute.
It is, obviously, very early in the season. Too early to be getting carried away, but there is an organisation and direction that is good to see. There is also an assurance and confidence in key areas which will be needed, and tested, in the weeks to come. If that yo-yo isn’t at the back of the drawer it might be worth putting it on your list for Santa.
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