Hull RUFC 25 v 30 Hull Ionians.

Hull RUFC v Hull Ionians RUFC
It was hot!
Too hot for playing rugby, certainly, and often enough too warm to watch. Those who braved the blazing sun were treated to a really good contest, much like the last game between the two at Chants Ave, but this time Ionians took the spoils.
Someone, (Hull’s Chairman, the avuncular Bruce Wilkie) suggested Ionians won because they had the better kicker. True, in that Lewis Minikin contributed 15 points off the tee, missing just once from distance from seven attempts. However, Hull conceded the kickable penalties and it is disingenuous towards the sterling efforts of the superior visitors back row and scrum -half and tells nothing of the herculean efforts from the “80 minuters” of the Ionians front five.
Hull possess a fairly substantial set of forwards and they put Ionians under pressure in the opening exchanges. They won a penalty around the Ionians’ 22 and elected to scrummage. Several infringements led to more set piece sweat and toil before Hull swung the ball wide and a couple of drives took them over the line for a try for Jack Baldry.
Ionians attacked the re-start and won a penalty 30m out and in front of the posts, a formality for Lewis Minikin to cut the deficit to 5 – 3.
George Mewburn defied the heat (have I mentioned it was hot?) to run around like a dervish and he turned the ball over with a thumping tackle to get Ionians on the move but they conceded a penalty and Hull kicked for touch to trap Ionians back in their own half.
Ionians re-gained possession and broke away, the back- row combining well with Sam Pocklington, and when Hull infringed Ionians had another go at goal, this time from 40m. Minikin again obliged to put Ionians narrowly ahead.
The home forwards came barging back but James Sanderson put an abrupt halt to it and Ionians countered with Mewburn breaking clear.
Play moved down into the crematorium corner, just inside the Hull 22, where there appeared to be an infringement; Mr Jones signalled an advantage and in the momentary indecision and confusion Nathan Hill grabbed hold of the ball and raced over in the corner. Minikin, who has become something of a deity within the ranks, judged the conversion perfectly from the touch – line to push Ionians into a 5 – 13 lead with half an hour played.
Despite the loss of Chris Morton for a 10 minute breather on the naughty step, Ionians extended the lead. With the much-anticipated break fast approaching Ionians won a line-out 10m from the home line. Up went Tyler Heelas and on went the drive. The maul split in two but Mewburn kept control of the ball to rummage his way through to the line. Minikin added the conversion and Ionians were 5 – 20 in front at half time.
Ionians made a promising start to the second period but a couple of basic errors gave Hull a go at goal and Reece Dean cut the arrears to 12 points. Latu Makaafi, introduced three minutes earlier at half time, was then yellow carded and went to spend ten minutes to acclimatise to the conditions.
Reece was wide with another long-range pot at goal, then five minutes later Minikin showed how it was done with a beauty from half way to restore the 15-point advantage.
The points were chalked off almost immediately when Hull decided to take the scrum at a penalty, they were awarded a free kick and a quick play sent Charlie Beech barrelling his way over. Dean added the extras and Hull were edging their way back into the game.
This proved to be the case as they continued to batter at the Ionians defence. The defensive line, shorn of the outstanding Alan Hudson (in the bin) buckled and centre Peter Hudson – Kowalewicz jinked his way to the line. Dean kicked the conversion and the hosts had cut the gap to a single point.
The self congratulations had barely finished before Ionians hit back. Callum Sanderson, on for his namesake James to add some bulk to counter the Hull heft, broke from the base and in stopping his progress the hosts conceded a penalty. Sam Pocklington, ever alert to the opportunity, took a quick tap and raced away. He fed onto Minikin who chipped and gathered and ran on to score. He goaled his own effort to put Ionians 8 points to the good, 22 – 30.
There was still 15 minutes remaining, a nervous eternity for the visiting supporters. Charlie Cook, introduced for his debut at fly – half, put in a steepling clearance kick to take Ionians out of their own 22 and for good measure Hull knocked on to give Ionians a great field position, well into the opposition half.
They were able to stay there for the bulk of the time remaining. The hosts offered less of a threat as they tired under the scorching sun and were restricted to shots at goal. One long range effort came back off the up-right and it wasn’t until the final minute that Dean enjoyed success to move the score to 25 – 30, less than a 7-point deficit, to gain a bonus point.
There is a saying “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”. This was true of the Ionians pack. They weighed in considerably under the Hull 8 : then the tight 5 went the distance. The line -out went well and discipline held pretty much through-out. An outstanding effort under any circumstance and doubly so in the heat.
The back – row were sharper around the field and at the breakdown to better their opposite numbers and a solid defence in the backs nullified the threat offered by Hull’s International contingent. All in all, a very satisfactory afternoon. And, I'm not sure I said, it was hot.