Otley 36 v 35 Hull Ionians.

After enjoying a festive lunch, where Pat took a knife to a “lovely, moist breast”, it was soon time to go pitch side to see if Ionians could put host club Otley to the sword, as they had done the previous week at Preston.
Unfortunately, it was Ionians who were carved open twice within the opening five minutes; only a magnificent last gasp tackle prevented the home side scoring, after an interception swept them down the stand - side touch, then Ed Crossland orchestrated a flowing move that resulted in a try for his half back partner, Sam Connor, under the posts. Joe Roundtree added the routine conversion for an early 7-point lead.
Handling errors brought about some scrappy play and prevented either side from building any momentum. When Otley were caught off-side Ben Smith put the ball to touch 10m from the line and Ionians took the catch and drove for the line.
The initial push was held and lunges from Alan Hudson and James Sanderson were also repelled, forcing Ionians to try to find space out wide. Quick transfer picked out Tom Winch, loitering with intent out wide and he had time to take his hands from his pockets, take the pass and cross for a try. Lewis Minikin knocked over the goal to tie the score.
Ionians seemed to learn nothing from the early exchanges (nor from the last time they had been to Cross green) and allowed Crossland and his back-line chums too much space and time and they took full advantage to cut through the centre of the field for Connor to grab his second try, goaled again by Roundtree to go 14 – 7 up.
There was a ten minute period where the forwards warmed one another up with some winter wrestling before winger Jimmy McDaniel got his hands on the ball and a typical jinking, dinking break made space for Will Yates to run in at the flag. Minikin was just wide with his attempt but Ionians were back within two points, 14 – 12.
Minikin then had a go at the posts from 45 yards, although it drifted just to the left of the posts it was a useful sighter and he enjoyed success, on 35 and 37 minutes, firing over a couple of penalties, to put Ionians into the lead.
Roundtree rounded off an intriguing half with a penalty goal for the hosts, and the sides went to oranges with the score 17 – 18.
Otley saw off a bright start from Ionians and ascendancy in the scrum put the hosts on the front foot, enabling them to control possession for the first ten minutes of the second half.
George Mewburn turned things back in favour of Ionians with a characteristic barn-storming break that put Minikin away, he was tackled and the ball was moved from Sam Pocklington and on to Oliver Rimmington. It looked a certain try but Rimmington hadn’t the bulk to force his way over. The attempted off-load was intercepted and it seemed the chance was gone.
Not in the eyes of James Sanderson. Otley spun the ball across their own line permitting Sanderson to line up and obliterate the unfortunate carrier. The ball flew free and was gathered on the far touch for Yates to cross for his second try.
In the 55th minute Yates completed his hat-trick and gave Ionians a bonus point try. Sam Pocklington fielded a ball just outside his own 22 and put in a splendid break, back past most of the opposition forwards. Mewburn then enjoyed brushing aside the remainder before picking out Yates, close in support. He still had plenty do, but he held off a couple of defenders to power over in the corner. Minikin struck a well-judged conversion and Ionians had opened up a significant lead, 17 – 30.
Ionians had to withstand a frenetic onslaught from the home side; they looked to have weathered the storm when the Otley wing knocked on with a try seeming a certainty, scrum put in. A solid platform and the ball secured, now to put the laces through the ball and clear the lines. No, Ionians attempted to run clear and lost possession without making the gain line. Otley gleefully swarmed all over the ball and swept it across to Sam Connor who completed his hat-trick. Crossland added the goal and Otley were back within a converted score, 24 -30.
Ionians’ cocked-up virtually from the re-start, ceding possession after initially dealing well with a box kick to then get dispossessed in contact. The home side ran the ball back and drew the cover to give Sam Taylor a clear run to the line. Crossland nailed the difficult kick to nudge Otley one point in front, 31 – 30. There were seven minutes remaining.
It was all Otley at this point and no surprise when they went in for a fifth try, moving the ball well to give Taylor a chance to glide over for his second try. Crossland was wide with the kick so Otley held a lead that could be supplanted by a converted score. Ionians had five minutes in which to find a way to get one.
To their credit Ionians put the previous five minutes of madness behind them and set about the task with commendable fortitude. Inevitably led by Mewburn (who seems to be taking his frustration and anger at Rachel Reeves and her anti-farming taxation measures out on the opposition every week) they went through innumerable phases, Callum Sanderson and Joe Makin carrying hard, before Mewburn led one last charge for the line. He was eventually pulled down just short of the line but the ball came back and was moved up the blind side for Yates to crash over for his fourth try of the match. 36 -35.
It all hung on the conversion. The fading light made it difficult to see events over on the far touch. It wasn’t gloomy enough to hide the fact the kick was well wide and Otley celebrated a narrow, very narrow, victory.
I was asked to keep it short this week but readers should suffer like those who went to witness the match. It was also remarked that a short report was to accommodate an article about Chris Taylor in next week’s programme. %!~* that!
See you all at BP next week for the game against ‘ull.