Preston Grasshoppers 44 v 35 Hull Ionians

Preston Grasshoppers 44 v 35 Hull Ionians.
“An opportunistic try to Ionians” bellowed the announcer over the public address system, as Sam Pocklington scored an eighth minute reply to ‘hoppers early effort. He was signally less vociferous when the hosts benefited from a wicked bounce that caused the ball to evade Charlie Kirk and sat up invitingly for Jacob Browne, who hared away and set up Tyler Spence for a try that put the home side well into the lead and in control of the match. Bitter? No, just bitterly disappointed that Ionians, again, failed to come to terms with the game management requirements needed to win a match.
That try completed a miserable afternoon for Ionians, especially the ten minute spell at the opening of the second half, during which Ionians conceded three unanswered tries and slipped from 21 – 10 up at the break, to being four points in arrears. Despite a battling final quarter, they failed to recover and slipped to another ignominious defeat.

…Stop press… Brilliant win for England cricket.

Preston had all the ball in the opening exchanges and made it tell with a try in the third minute by Jack Nowell look-a-like, Tyler Spence. Ionians were quick to respond and the trio of James Thompson, Will Yates and Sam Pocklington harried and harassed Browne, driving him back over the line, where he was robbed of the ball by Pocklington who dotted down. Opportunistic? humph. Lewis Minikin struck the ball sweetly off the tee and I’s took the lead.
Ionians kept ‘hoppers pinned in their own half; the hosts lived dangerously as they were content to keep possession and carry through the forwards instead of clearing their lines via the boot of Will Hunt. They were caught out when they ceded possession and Josh Britton broke away before transferring onto Yates who picked out Thompson to crash over in the corner.
A predictable change in tactic saw the ball hoofed deep into Ionians territory. Thompson fielded it well and skipped nicely away but then skewed a kick into touch. Hoppers took a clean catch and set up a ruck enabling No8, Scott Richardson, to race through a gap before setting the backline away across field to Browne, who came into the line and ghosted through to score out wide. Hunt’s place kicking didn’t match his control out of hand and a second miss maintained a two point lead for the visitors, half an hour into the game.
Minikin showed his prowess off the tee with three penalties leading up to the break. The second effort was helped considerably by the indiscipline from the home side, who were marched back twenty yards for questioning the referee, but the final kick was superbly struck, flat and true, from the half way line. Ionians went in for oranges 10 -21 to the good.
If I didn’t have to mention the first ten minutes of the second half, then I wouldn’t. It was disastrous. From the kick off ‘hoppers ran from deep, up to half-way, where Jack Lightowler got his hands on the ball and he ran round half the side before sprinting clear to score.
A rejuvenated Preston won a penalty 10m from the Ionians line; fancying their chances in the set piece they elected to scrum. Richardson picked up from the base and popped a pass to scrum-half Brand who squirmed over by the posts. Hunt couldn’t miss the conversion and ‘hoppers led 24 -21. Seven minutes played and Ionians lead had frittered away.
It got worse. Buoyed by the bonus point try the home side took complete control and an excellent kick through from Hunt fell to Spence and he powered over from his second try.
It got even worse when Euan Walker was needlessly carded. They were really under the cosh at this stage. When the officious Mr Pearson awarded ‘hoppers a penalty in the I’s 22, with the visitors one man down, they figuratively licked their lips and went for a scrum. Ionians showed commendable fortitude to hold them up twice and they were able to clear to outside their 22. Unfortunately, they conceded another penalty and Hunt added three more points to the home tally.
Ionians had not been in the Preston half on any occasion in the 25 minutes of the second half, but when they did, they did so with telling effect. Britton made the initial incursion and Yates carried it on. He was held but Kirk kept play alive and he combined with Alfie Celella, who fed onto Sam Wilson. He still had plenty to do but he outpaced the cover and shrugged off a despairing tackle to crash over by the flag. Minikin struck a beauty to close the score to 32 -28.
Ionians were restored to a full complement and back in the game, so it appeared. Regrettably, a complete lack of concentration and commitment allowed Browne to carve his way through the mid-field to leavethe last line of defence, Minikin, facing a two on one. Browne took the easy and sensible option; drawing his man and popping a pass to the pub landlord*, who cantered away to score.
The story of Ionians’ day, their season, was exemplified in ‘hoppers final try. An aimless kick from just outside the home 22 looked to be well covered by Ionians but it bounced acutely away from Kirk and sat up nicely for Jake Mayer, who gratefully accepted the chance to sprint away before setting Spence up for his hat-trick.
Ionians came back with some spirited play. Josh Britton broke through before being brought to ground, Pocklington moved the ball on to Lucas Powell who put his head down and charged on, once stopped Pocklington swept the ball across to Kirk. He made yards before being tackled and Pocklington then picked out Minikin charging down the stand side touch. It looked as if he would squeeze in at the corner but he was pinned inches from the line. Again, Pocklington was on hand to move the ball back in field onto the supporting forwards who bullocked for the line, only to be held just short. Pressure eventually told as the ball was retrieved and turned in field for Joe Makin to flop over for the try.
The score was 44 – 35 and it threatened to be a grandstand finish when Britton cut through again. His pass just eluded Minikin but play was brought back for a penalty to Ionians. Pragmatism ( a potential losing bonus point on offer), only a minute remaining of play and Minikin’s success from the tee, meant a go for goal. The kick fell agonisingly just to the right of the post.
That was it, a first home win for hoppers and another loss for Ionians, another case of what might have been.
The “free” week is filled with a re-arranged home fixture against Sheffield Tigers, see you there.
• Al Murray.