I don’t think I have mentioned it, but I am extremely well acquainted with week three’s winner of the Rolling maul prediction league. That success led to a rather rash, and unique, forecast of an away win at The Sycamores, home of Leeds Tykes, in week four. Unfortunately, It wasn’t to be. However, it wasn’t for the lack of trying and Ionians garnered a very creditable bonus point, with an excellent response in the final quarter that brought three well-constructed scores and just reward for the team’s effort.

The Tykes aren’t most people’s promotion pick for nothing and showed they are a well organised outfit. And confident. With ball in hand their backline is pleasing on the eye, without it they are well drilled and defensively sound.

On the day Ionians almost matched them. Certainly the side put in a colossal defensive performance, in which Will Yates was superb, and they played some good attacking rugby; there has to be a but and it comes in the shape of some costly errors, poor decisions (particularly when playing in their own 22) and a lack of patience.

This is all in comparison with the best in the league; with performances like this, Ionians supporters can look forward to a much less stressful campaign than last and perhaps dream of more than mid- table safety.

Leeds produced some slick handling from the off. They had Ionians back peddling and when the visitors were penalised for a high tackle James Watts stepped up to accept the three points on offer.

Ionians then showed their paces, Max Woolgar-Norton and Lewis Minikin combined well to push the Tykes back to the 22 and when they were caught off-side Minikin brought the teams level with a routine kick from in front of the posts.

Both sides played some entertaining stuff without creating a break through, due mainly to some top - notch defensive work, and it took until the twentieth minute before Leeds crossed for the opening try.

The score stemmed from a miss at the tail of an Ionians line-out that was collected by the Tykes back-row. It was quickly swept across the field and back again before Toby Williams, a spectator to the free flowing rugby, joined in to drive over from close range. Watts added the conversion to put Leeds 10 -3 up.

The visitors were not long in fashioning a response. A Powerful drive from George Mewburn, carried on by Callum Sanderson and Chris Morton, put Ionians onto the front foot and created the uncertainty in mid-field on which Minikin thrives. He drew in defenders like moths to the flame, allowing him to pass to Alfie Celella, who hared away up the touch. He was tripped by a despairing effort from his opposite number but had the momentum to slide his way over the line. 10 – 8.

Ionians struggles at the line-out continued and they conceded a penalty, which allowed Watts to put his side to within 10m of the Ionians line. A clean catch and drive was rumbled in field before being held up under the posts, however Mr Taylor had spotted another infringement and another line-out was successfully executed, resulting in a try, driven over by the pack and scored by centre Ben Dixon.

Both sides then lost players to injury; a promising debut from Woolgar- Norton was cut short, leading to a re-shuffle of the Ionians back-line with Charlie Kirk coming onto the wing and Yates into the centre and the Tykes introduced Seremaia Turagababeci (fondly remembered by Ionians supporters of a certain vintage) as a straight swap for Henry McNab.

The Tykes closed the half with a concerted effort on the Ionians line. Well-rehearsed forward drives were stoutly repelled and the hosts had to be content with a 17 – 8 lead at the break.

Leeds began the second half as they did the first and Watts put a penalty to within 15m of the Ionians line. The drive was held and Ionians won a scrum. Rather than clear their line they elected to run the ball, pacy as they are it was the wrong tactic in the wrong area of the field. Another scrum and a similar outcome, until Ionians eventually put boot to ball. Unfortunately, it failed to make touch and the hosts kicked and carried back into the Ionians 22. Leeds upped the ante and eventually breached the Ionians defence when Jack Smith powered over.

The Tykes continued to play at full throttle and at times they stretched Ionians close to breaking point but Yates and co. held them out and they weathered the storm.

Ionians then turned the tables with some good interplay allowing Minikin to break away. He put Celella free but Alfie cut inside, instead of pinning his ears back and going for the corner, and the cover was able to snuff out the chance.

A knock on at the breakdown allowed Leeds to clear up field and in to touch. Giddy from his exertions Celella took a quick throw to Charlie Kirk. He in turn threw a long pass to Cam Burnhill and, ready or not, he took the ball and the full force of Adam Brown. No permanent damage done but I’s lost possession and Leeds hit touch.

Brown hit his mark and Leeds swept the ball smartly across the field; Turagababeci cut between the centres and set Ben Turpin away to score the bonus point try. Watts nailed the conversion and Leeds were 21 points clear, 29 – 8, on the hour.

I’s dusted themselves off and hit back with a superb try. Sam Pocklington took a quick penalty and jinked through the phalanx of opposition forwards before picking out Celella in support down the stand-side wing. He made ground before turning a pass back inside to Minikin who raced to the line to score. Minikin added the goal and Ionians now looked a danger, 29 – 15 behind.

At least they looked enough of a threat for Tykes to take 3 points when on offer five minutes later and Watts extended the lead to 32 – 15.
Ionians were far from done, however, and conjured up what was arguably the try of the match. The pack set the platform with carries from James Sanderson, Lucas Powell and Sam Edwards. As Leeds back peddled Ben Smith took the ball forward and popped a pass to Sam Pocklington who spotted a gap and nipped through before picking out Minikin. He, once again, found Celella and the young winger made no mistake, outpacing the cover to dot down in the corner.

Leeds pinned Ionians back in their own 22. The visitors came unstuck when they knocked on attempting to run the ball and from the resulting scrum the Tykes made the game safe when they swung the ball across the park for winger Oliver Williams to squeeze in by the flag.

There was only a couple of minutes play left and Leeds seemed impatient for the final whistle. Ionians were equally keen to get something from an entertaining game they had contributed so much to.

In the final minute they achieved their goal with a bonus point try. The tireless Ben Stephenson, Joe Makin and James Sanderson made inroads into the home defence, creating the chance to move the ball across to Cam Burnhill, galloping down the far touch. Not the best pass in the world was expertly flicked on with the outside of his foot and he chased on to win the race to the line. It was a fitting end to spirited performance. Well done all.

President Pat challenged me to include some poetry by Philip Larkin in my match report of the Hull game. Those familiar with his work, particularly “this be the verse” may understand why I chose not to. Just for Pat I will paraphrase Oscar Wilde, “ There is only one thing in life worse than being talked down to, that is not to be talked to at all”. At least there was a beer.
PS. I had better mention Mike Mel. He did alright.