Otley 55 v 34 Hull Ionians

There is now a full fortnight to allow your nails to grow before the final match of the season. The way the fixtures and results have conspired it is almost inevitable that they will be gnawed to the quick come 4.40pm on the 27th.
It is doubtful Ionians could finish with a better fixture than Huddersfield at home and Billingham to face new leaders Rotherham, but nothing is guaranteed, so expect a fraught afternoon.
There was no need to nibble at your nails during the encounter at Cross Green. Ionians never really threatened to overhaul the 28 point lead Otley had established just after the half hour; equally it was an entertaining match, so boredom never drew attention away to ones cuticles.
There were fourteen tries to appreciate (and two disallowed for Ionians) in an exhibition of excellent attacking rugby, unfortunately the defending failed to reach the same quality. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least one defence orientated coach who would have had a few choice words to say on the performance of the East Yorkshire side.
The difference between the two sides was the hosts ability to release the ball out of the tackle and keep the ball alive at the breakdown, creating opportunities that they more effectively capitalised upon.
Ionians were first onto the scoreboard with an early Lewis Minikin penalty. Otley countered from the re-start with a break down the wing before switching play infield, Joe Roundtree put in a pin point cross field kick to pick out Mike Graham out on the opposite wing and he popped a pass back to the supporting Ben Dinsdale who cantered over for the opening try. Roundtree added a well-judged conversion for a maximum return for the home side.
Ionians were back into the Otley 22 and James Sanderson won a penalty right in front of goal, but they elected to go for touch and then conceded a free kick at the line-out, which allowed Otley to clear.
Otley grabbed a second try after 10 minutes when the Ionians defence were drawn into the breakdown to create space in midfield; Roundtree and Crossland combined to pick out Sam Taylor, who cut in off the wing to scythe his way through the Ionians line and over for the score. Roundtree failed to hit the mark for Otley, so they took a 12 – 3 lead.
From the re-start Ionians re-gained possession, following a line -out, and a Minikin break brought them up to the 22. The ball was quickly re-cycled and moved out to Sam Wilson who skipped past his marker to score. Minikin’s conversion brought the home advantage back to two points, at 12 – 10.
Otley didn’t drag their heels in fabricating a response, scoring four unanswered tries in 15 minutes. Play was frenetic with both sides producing some attractive rugby, but Otley were more clinical in both their approach play and finishing.
Ionians lost possession well into the home sides half of the field and the black and whites were quick to re cycle the ball and some smart handling across the back line put Taylor into space to race away for his second try of the match.
The visitors then produced a passage of exhibition rugby that looked to have clawed a try back, when Sam Pocklington started and finished a flowing move, only to have it chalked off for a forward pass. It was a tight (but incorrect) call according to Mr Gosling, who was well placed to judge.
Otley cleared their lines from the resulting scrum and two penalties conceded in quick succession put Ionians back deep into their own half. Otley showed commendable patience as they probed at the Ionians defence and built numerous phases before finding a breach. The outstanding Crossland stepped his way through the middle of the Ionians defence before turning inside to produce a well weighted pass for Rory Gafney to run on to. It was Otley’s bonus point try and with the Roundtree conversion Otley stretched the lead to 26 – 10.
Fantastic support play saw Otley go further in front with the back row combining to break away in front of the stand before putting Taylor away to complete his hat trick. Roundtree added the goal to put Otley comfortably in front, 33 – 10.
Otley were, unsurprisingly, now full of confidence. Winger Graham produced a chip and chase that he should have finished off with a try, only to be pulled down by James Thompson (who unfortunately injured himself in the process) just short of the line. Otley stayed on the Ionians 5m line and it wasn’t long before Dinsdale avoided a tackle to go over to score.
Right on the stroke of half time Ionians pulled a try back. A penalty was put to the corner, a clean take was driven on before being released to Josh Britton who smashed his way through to the line. Minikin’s conversion brought oranges and the half time score to 38 – 17.
Ionians made a decent start to the second period. They controlled play for the opening stages, though much of it was in their own half of the pitch. The hosts then produced a score from nowhere to further extend the lead; Ionians fumbled a pass and the ball fell to ground, Crossland hacked it wildly up field and set off in pursuit. He was behind Alfie Celella by half a length, even as the ball bounced into the in-goal area, but the bounce evaded the Ionian and Crossland was rewarded for his effort with the touch down.
Ionians received a fillip when Crossland was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, but they sportingly evened the numbers when Chris Morton joined him a minute later. The visitor’s made the most of the reduced numbers though, scoring two tries in Crossland’s enforced absence.
They thought they had got immediate retribution from the ensuing penalty. It was put into touch and a clean catch and drive was driven over, but not to the satisfaction of the official. However, justice was served when, from the resulting 5m scrum, Ionians swung the ball wide for Wilson to go in for his second try of the game.
Ionians’ tails were up, they were starting to dominate the set piece as the home pack tired and a break from Britton set George Mewburn on a barn storming run to the line for the bonus point try for Ionians. Minikin added the goal to bring Ionians to within two scores of the hosts, 43 – 29.
Crossland put paid to any such thoughts with his first contribution, following his re-introduction from the bin. He took a pass on half-way and cut through to gallop 40 yards. When the cover eventually cut him off, he had support from Gaffney, who collected a pass to finish the break with his second, and Otley’s eighth, try of the match.
With play entering the final five minutes the home side completed their scoring for the day when brawny replacement, Josh Sarsfield, broke straight up the middle of the pitch to crash over under the posts to bring up a half century.
Ionians hit straight back to gain a consolation try, with Minikin starting and finishing a length of the field effort but missed the goal, to bring a final score of 55 – 34.
Ionians almost added another with a 50 yard dash from Wilson, but he was caught short by Crossland and the home side managed to clear to touch to bring to an end an entertaining match, even if it was a relatively fruitless afternoon for the visitors.
So, we are at the arse-end of the season and still don’t know our fate! Roll on a fortnight and the game against Huddersfield. Those of a nervous disposition may need to look away.