There are lies, damn lies and statistics, but more of that later. Hull Ionians produced a performance full of character, grit and determination to deservedly earn a draw at Crow Trees, indubitably the second half performance warranted victory. Blaydon only managed one serious incursion into the Ionians half during the second period, right at the death, and Steve Slingby, for one (the only one!) thought counter attacking from his own line the right and proper action.
Kick – touch – finish - draw !!!!!!!
Kick – (0pposition)knock on - scrum - score – win. hmmmmmm???
Choose your option.

The pitch at Crow Trees was very wet and although the match missed the deluge that blighted the Hawks game played earlier in the day it did nothing to improve conditions and crisp handling and open play were at a premium throughout the afternoon.
Ten minutes of attrition had taken place before anything noteworthy occurred; the unfortunate visitors were penalised after Joe Martin had pulled off a seemingly well timed and legitimate tackle. Blaydon elected to kick for touch and found good position 10 yards out. They collected the line-out ball and drove for the line. At the first stoppage Ionians were penalised and James Tyson was invited to take a 10 minute rest. Blaydon piled on the pressure and were awarded a penalty try when I’s transgressed again. Harsh, 7 – 0.
Blaydon continued to shade the exchanges driven by some astute tactical kicking and it wasn’t until the 25th minute that Ionians were able to establish control in the Blaydon half. Several powerful drives from the pack had Blaydon back peddling before Ionians moved the ball along the line for Chris Reakes to break through only to be held up over the line. Advantage was being played and the ball was brought back for off side. Quick thinking from Slingsby allowed him to take a tap penalty and he skipped through the nonplussed defenders to score under the posts, Isaac Green tied the scores with the straight forward conversion.
The strong home side, playing with confidence off the back of a successful run of results, responded with a series of forward assaults and despite the exertions of the Ionians eight, for whom Torkington and Rice were outstanding, Blaydon were awarded a further penalty try to lead 14 – 7. Ionians returned to the attack but with handling becoming increasingly difficult ball retention deteriorated and the closing minutes descended into a series of scrums.
The second half began in similar vein and with both packs becoming encrusted in mud it was difficult to determine who was who. An enterprising passage of play from Green and Reakes pushed Blaydon into their own 22, and with the hesitant fullback caught in possession the visitors rumbled towards the line only to lose possession and allow Blaydon to clear.
Back came Ionians, now in the ascendency. Reakes planted a neat through ball for Sam Wilson to chase and he showed surprising composure to kick on and outpace his marker and gather to plunge over and score. Green converted to level the scores again. Both sides set about controlling the game and gaining victory. Conditions dictated the style of play and with two evenly matched packs it led to a stalemate for ten minutes. Green was given the opportunity to put I’s in front with a penalty from 35 yards but he was distracted by the increasingly blustery conditions and the ball skewed wide of the posts.
With five minutes remaining Reakes and Wilson combined again to break clear but this time Wilson was unable to escape the covering defence and Blaydon won turn over ball at the break down and proceeded to work the ball relentlessly up the pitch. They carried possession right to the visitors line before conceding custody and it fell to Slingsby to earn I’s a hard fought two points by punting the ball to(wards) touch...................
I’s once again showed they have the ability and desire to compete at this level.
Dave Laverick moved across the front row to play tight head, a short distance in measure but a world away from loose head in technique and immpossible to most folk, and he put in a full shift. He was accompanied in the front row by Tom Rice who had his best game of the season. The engine room was manned by Joe Makin and Alex Campbell with the commitment to which we have become accustomed and the back row trio were again exemplary,with Torky just shading his colleagues to take the accolades.
Joe Barker would surely have preferred the conditions to be better for his debut but he acquitted himself well with an assured performance which augers well for the remaining weeks of the season.
The backs were better defensively than they were last week and also showed glimpses of attacking prowess in the difficult conditions. Sam Wilson looks to becoming back to his best and a frisson of excitement was evident whenever he had ball in hand (his kicking is another matter).

Anyway back to the opening sentence.
It won’t surprise me if there aren’t other games that go our way as teams are denuded of their loaned players as injuries and International calls affect the upper tiers of English Rugby.
Several Blaydon supporters bemoaned the “loss” of their dual registered Falcons players and well they may, but it was a beautiful warm sunny afternoon in the North East, the ref was spot on during the passage of play leading to the opening score and Ionians haven’t drawn a game since the 2010/11 season, the 22 – 22 draw against Hull on the 9th of April. Interestingly the previous draw was only four weeks before that, a 25 -25 draw with ‘gate. That just about covers it.
Ionians entertain the geriatric Eastern Europeans next week. I see no reason that I's can't build on this performance and gain their second victory of the season.