Yorkshire Cup first round match report by PAUL LYON

Ionians playing on centre stage at home,

showed their skills, after a difficult start, to handsomely overcome Driffield with a 34 to 0 victory in the first round of the cup.

The first 10 minutes were relatively even with strong tackles from both sides and opportunities for both teams. Will Robinson was unlucky not to score after a charge down bounced in favour of the Driffield full back. A crunching tackle at the other end by Harry Cawood stopped Driffield from getting over the I's line. After 12 minutes though and following a series of scrums, I's attacked through number 8, James Malcolmson, who broke through a couple of tackles down the right side, with the ball taken on by Harry Lyon from the following ruck, Olly Painter picked up and fed the ball back to the number 8 for him to go over the Driffield line. 5 to 0, conversion missed to the right post from a difficult angle by James Magee.
From the restart Driffield attacked and again some strong defence by I's stopped them from breaching I's line. A kick up field by I's fullback helped to clear some danger and a great chase by Charlie and James put the Driffield full back under pressure and the ball came back I's way, passing through the hands of Adam Myers, Danny Betts, Harry Cawood and finally to Joe Walker who ran in from the 22 yard line to touch down in the corner. 10 to nil, conversion missed.
The final minutes of the first half were spent mainly in the middle of the pitch and in the hands and feet of the forwards and little progress made by either team, though rucking by I' s greatly improved in previous weeks performances, with good work from Tex, Marshall and Will Plater
.
The second half showed plenty of changes to I's team, with the coach giving a debut cap to Daniel Couch, and the full front row being swapped. It was now that I's fitness started to kick in and some excellent solo try's were scored over the next 15 minutes or so. Good work from Will Evans put Adam Myers through to run down the left wing and score a 50 yard solo effort. Conversion completed by James Magee. A break from Harry Cawood saw the ball pass through hands and James Magee get over the line in the opposite corner, though disallowed after consultation between linesman and referee.
However, soon after, a penalty to I's saw Benn Wilson break through 2 tackles before James Malcolmson picked up to score his second try of the match. 22 to 0, 35 minutes played. Straight from kickoff the ball was passed through the backs hands, with Harvey, Danny H finding Daniel Couch, who put on the after burners to run down the left wing and then score under the posts. Conversion made by James Magee 29 to 0. I's were rampant now and a minute later good work from Danny Betts let James Magee in to score in the corner 34 to 0. The last 10 minutes saw I's progressing up the pitch without adding to their final total. Consecutive high tackles on Will Plater by the same Driffield forward, left the referee with no alternative but to send the Driffield player off the pitch and the match ended.

Well done to all players and great to see Ionians into the second round draw

Tries James Malcolmson 2, Joe Walker, Adam Myers, Daniel Couch, James Magee
Conversions James Magee 2

Man of the match awards went to Danny Betts and Harry Cawood who both worked extremely hard in a good team performance helping to secure the win.

Finally, good news from the hospital Will Plater has no broken bones and is feeling much better thankfully!

Team

Benn Wilson ,Will Robinson, Adam Myers,Harry Cawood,Harry Lyon,James Malcolmson,Daniel Betts,Jack Denley, Marshall Holgate, Charlie Kirk,William Plater Oliver Painter, Daniel Hornby, Harvey Kay Gibson, James Magee, Joe Walker,Will Evans, Colton Anderson ,Paul Evison, Daniel Couch, Elliot Norris.