Hull Ionians 26 v 36 Tynedale

Hull Ionians 26 v 36 Tynedale

After enjoying Bob’s signature dish for lunch at a well-attended former players’ gathering, I went into the carpark to retrieve my camera and notebook, before returning to the clubhouse. In the foyer I had a brief conversation with Dan, then on seeing the game had just kicked off, jokingly said that I had better get going or I would miss the first score.
There was nothing at all funny about the opening minutes of the match. By the time I got to the patio Ionians were five points in arrears; the visiting pack having been gifted possession, drove over for a try by prop Angus White. Josh Leslie made light of a difficult conversion and it was already looking to be a difficult afternoon for the hosts.
Ionians put the setback behind them and monopolised possession for the next five minutes. Josh Britton and James Thompson combined to get up close to the line and when the ball was re-cycled Charlie Kirk put in a grubber kick that sat up nicely for Lewis Minikin to gather and cross for the home sides opening score. Kirk added the goal to level events.
A lack of commitment at the re-start allowed Tynedale to grab hold of the ball and they were quick to make ground before winger Joe Tully cut through to score. Leslie again converted to restore a 7-point advantage.
Ionians then had virtually all of the play for the following twenty minutes. There was plenty of honest endeavour; Alan Hudson charged forward with his usual enthusiasm for contact, Thompson moved the ball well and had a couple of sniping runs and Tyler Heelas crashed over the line but was unable to ground the ball. There was plenty of effort but no reward.
In stark contrast Tynedale had one chance and made the most of it. They escaped from their own half and kicked down into the home 22. They executed a well-rehearsed catch and drive for Ralph Johnson to claim Tynedale’s third try. Leslie made it three from three and extended the lead to 7 -21.
Ionians worked their way back into the “red zone” and battered away at the Tynedale line. There was a succession of penalties conceded by the Corbridge side and despite being repeatedly threatened with the sanction of ten minutes on the sideline no such punishment was metered out. Still, the combative Thompson wriggled his way over, and with Kirk adding the conversion Ionians reached the break with just a seven point deficit.
This was cut to just two points five minutes into the second half, with the try of the match. Superb fluid running from Will Yates, Thompson and Minikin put Sam Wilson within sight of the line and the club record try scorer needed no further encouragement to add to his tally.
Ionians achieved this despite having a replacement prop forward (who will remain nameless to prevent him any further embarrassment), on the field for four minutes, being sent to the bin. Despite the lack of a card for the persistent transgressing by Tynedale, Ionians can have no complaints for the reckless actions of Chris M****n.
Before the home side were back to strength Tynedale made their superior numbers tell. Three penalties in quick succession, all taken as scrums, put Ionians under pressure and when Tynedale slung the ball wide centre Euan Forlow was able to glide through the stretched defence to gain a bonus point try.
On the hour Ionians brought the scores back to parity. Thompson initiated the move with a lovely break, Hudson took over and charged into contact and Ionians kept the ball moving with Yates cutting diagonally across the pitch. He popped the ball to Kirk and he chipped ahead for Wilson to bag a brace and give Ionians a much needed bonus point of their own. 26 a piece and all to play for.
Unfortunately for the home side Tynedale had found a facet of play in which they had a potential edge and one that Mr Pearson had little understanding. Every opportunity to scrummage was gratefully accepted and superior shoving at the set piece was inevitably rewarded with a penalty. Some-one please explain why this is the case.
No 8 Owen Vassello went over for a try from the back of one scrum close to the line and Leslie converted a penalty five minutes before the final whistle to thoroughly deflate the home team.
They were given a chance right on the final whistle to claw back a losing bonus point but the pressure on the inexperienced Kirk weighed too heavily and he was wide with his effort.
Ionians are staring down the barrel of the relegation gun. Fylde is a difficult place to go at any time, needing points it is even more of a challenge, but the team have to go and put in a performance like the one at Rotherham if they are going to get away and above Billingham. See you there.