Dinnington Vs Ionians Match Report by Paul Lyon

Ionians maintained their unbeaten run in 2014, though with some significant absentees, it was extremely hard work for them to achieve a draw against a dominant Dinnington pack.

A beautiful spring day, meant that there were opportunity for good play, and from the kickoff Dinnington exerted plenty of pressure on Ionians scrum and the defence, but the tackles were repeatedly made by the Ionians players and they held firm for 10 minutes without getting out of their own half.

However, eventually through good hands, Dinnington managed to breach the defence down the left side, but unfortunately the conversion was missed.

From the kickoff the play was interrupted by knock ons and penalties, and from a scrum on the half way line, a brilliant individual try by James Magee, who received the pass at inside centre and then proceeded to dodge between players and evade 6 tackles before running to the try line and score under the post, fantastic, with Brad scoring the conversion. 7 to 5 in favour of Ionians.

Ionians managed to extend their lead with a score from a Dinnington line out, where James Malcolmson, collected the ball at the front of the line and proceeded to run down the blindside and scored in the corner. Conversion missed, 12 to 5 in favour of Ionians.

The second half followed similar patterns to the first, Dinnington dominant in the scrums and at the breakdown, starving Ionians of the ball, but Ionians in defence were solid. Some great tackles by Danny Betts, Paul Evison, James Malcolmson, Olly Painter, to name a few, kept Dinnington at bay, until the final minutes, when for the umpteenth time, they picked the Dinnington forwards picked up on the breakdown and eventually muscled their way over the try line and importantly scored under the post, the conversion then being completed and the scores were level.

At the final whistle Scores were tied at 12 all. Well played to both teams, on a strong physical game.

Tries: James Magee, James Malcolmson
Conversion Brad Clarkson
Men of Match : Danny Betts, James Magee