Hull Ionians did enough to secure five points in the re-arranged match against Macclesfield, a crucial fixture to both clubs stuck at the bottom of N1.
Macclesfield had the better of the scoreless opening quarter, using their pack to retain possession and to bludgeon away at the home eight, they should have made more of several good chances created but handling errors and a good defensive effort kept them at bay.
Tom Eaton broke the deadlock for the visitors when he stepped through a gaping hole on half way and avoided the despairing clutches to sprint clear before putting winger Matt King, who was up in close support, away to score. Tom Morton added the goal to open up a seven point lead.
Ionians responded with an improved forward effort to drive the ball into the opposition 22. James Sanderson and Mark Wigham did the donkey work to allow Phil Eggleshaw to barge over from close range.
This was followed swiftly by a fine solo effort from Aquile Smith; ever alert, Smith gathered the ball at the base of a ruck, bullocked through the middle and sprinted away. He rounded the covering No8 and dived over in the corner. The kick was expertly judged by Isaac Green, to put the hosts 14 – 7 in front, which was how it remained to the break.
Ionians weathered an early second half onslaught from Macclesfield, during which scrum half Green was sent to the bin. He wasn’t required though as Ionians, after Smith had turned defence into attack by racing from one 22 to the other, drove a line-out over for a try for Ali Thomson, to extend the lead to 19 – 7.
The bonus point try came as the game approached the final quarter. The indefatigable Joe Allott broke through the first line of a flagging defence, ran on for 40 yards before unselfishly passing inside to Smith to finish under the posts.
Sam Wilson made the game safe with Ionians fifth try on the hour, when he was on hand to finish off a move instigated by some increasingly fluid play from the home back line, Lewis Minikin making the nifty break that put the home side in a good attacking position.
King scored his second to keep the visitors faint hopes alive but they faded along with Macclesfield’s efforts as Ionians hit back with two late tries; Smith was denied a third try when he was illegally impeded in a race to the line but Ionians had the solace of being awarded a penalty try and Eggleshaw bagged a second, like the first, from close range.
Francis Barker scored for Macclesfield, following up on a break by fellow back-rower Nyle Davidson, between the Ionians scores but it was little more than a consolation though no more than their effort deserved. Despite lacking the necessary guile and experience to prosper at this level they never stopped trying, rather reminiscent of Ionians campaign of a couple of seasons ago.
Macclesfield now look doomed but the five points keep Ionians distant hopes alive. The home side need to gain some consistency and genuine self-belief. An ability to impose themselves from the outset would also be a huge benefit, catch up rugby is not an easy discipline in this division.