Match Report by Paul Lyon

Silent Sunday brought a strange atmosphere to Brantingham Park, as Ionians entertained Pocklington, on a bright, cold winters day. With the Yorkshire Cup semi final just around the corner, Coaches Painter and Kirk, decided to change the team around and let everyone show what they were capable of.
Line out, led to a scrum infield, won by Ionians hooker, that enabled Kirk to pass to Myers at stand off and a well practiced set piece led to Myers running through the Pocklington defence to score under the posts and convert his own try. 7 to 0.

Some stout defending and good kicking from Pocklington, meant that while occassional breaks from Archie, Jimbob and Will Robinson occurred, Ionians weren't able to add to their score for another 10 minutes, when a pass from will Plater, put James Malcolmson through to pass inside as he drew the last defender to enable ADAM Myers to score his second try and conversion.
14 to 0.

The resulting restart saw the kick caught by Jimbob who proceeded to run through the whole Pock defence and add the third score of the day, again converted by Myers. 21 to 0.

As Ionians chopped and changed personnel, Will Tindale showed good hands and speed to break through defenders tackles and enabled Myers to record his hat trick of tries. the last minute of the first half showed Ionians at their strongest running at pace, with Jimbob able to break through the Pocklington back line to add to the score, and Kirk converted the try, 33 to 0 at half time.

Second half restart saw some good work through the Ionians backs, with passing and kick troughs a feature, Sam Blythe showing some good skills down the wing. however first try of the half came from a breakdown in the middle of the park, and Jimbob picked up to run at the defence. with a 3 man overlap and the full back to beat a dummy inside led to him securing his own hat trick of tries for the game. Myers converted. 40 to 0.

Paul Evison, Danny Couch, Joe Walker and Brad Clarkson all showed pace and good hands within the backs, but the 7th try came from flanker Archie Smeaton who picked up from the loose and sprinted from 20 yards.

New starter Luke collected the ball and sprinted through the defensive line to set up another Ionians attack and from that Adam Myers spun the ball out, and when I's were tackled short of the line, big Will Robinson was able to dive over the line to register 50 point. conversion by Charlie Kirk, 52 to 0.

Referee Kirk disallowed a flowing Ionians move leading to Cawood running in from 30 yards. however, shortly afterwards Will Tindale and Archie Smeaton combined to enable Smeaton to get over for his second try.

Archie completed his hat trick as the match drew to an end, with a burst of speed from 25 yards, and scored under the post. conversion by Myers, final score 66 to 0.

Well done to all the team, good handling and solid tackling helped secure good ball to enable the scores to be achieved.

tries : Adam Myers 3, James Malcolmson 3, Archie Smeaton 3, Will Robinson
conversions : Adam Myers 6, Charlie Kirk 2
Man Of Match Adam Myers