Hull Ionians v Hull RUFC

Firstly, as is only just and proper, thanks to Bob and all the staff, who served a packed dining hall with an absolutely marvellous meal, prior to this local derby. Also, I must offer a huge personal cheer to Tony Storr, International haulier and sponsor of the website, for hosting a table of reprobates, particularly for his liquid generosity that made 79 minutes or so of the game something of a haze.
Finally, a mention to Hull President, Jeremy Saunt, who delivered a measured, diplomatic and conciliatory speech prior to the game. It is after all nearly Christmas.
The match, if not “a game of two halves”, was certainly divided into four clear periods when each side had the ascendency.
Hull owned the opening half hour. Initially Ionians looked solid enough, until they weren’t. They fell off Hull No8, Adam Brankley, as he pummelled his way through the mid-field before picking out Mike Adland and he cut back inside before waltzing his way past a static defence to go in for the opening try. Fyn Hobson tagged on the goal to open up a 7 point lead with just four minutes played.
With Ionians being repeatedly penalised Hull’s confidence visibly grew. When the home side did receive a penalty the kick was too deep, giving the visitors a scrum and the opportunity to switch play from their own 22 down to the other end of the field.
The Hull pack piled on the pressure and Ionians were penalised 5m from their line for Hobson to accept the easy three points.
Ionians continued to give the ball away, mostly by infringements, so it wasn’t long before a line-out on the home 22 was gathered and driven towards the line, before being swept across to winger Harry Dawkins, who snook over in the corner. Ionians were trailing 0 – 15 in as many minutes.
Ionians managed to get onto the attack, though they hadn’t managed any play within the Hull 22, but again they were penalised, allowing Hull to completely dictate the game.
Ionians could have easily gone further behind when they failed to deal with a grubber kick threaded through by Harrison Astley. Fortunately, Jimmy McDaniel was alert enough to cover across and smother the danger.
The resulting scrum was won by Hull and centre Bureta came crashing onto the ball and smashed his way to within inches of the line. Another scrum went Ionians way and Tom Winch gathered the loose ball and carried to just over the 22 before a penalty allowed Ionians into the Hull half.
Indiscipline relinquished all the ground Ionians had made and a Hull Line-out was driven forwards, before the ball was thrown out to Bureta who reprised his earlier run but this time he smashed his way over for the try. Hobson again did the necessary and Hull were 0 – 22 up with half an hour played.
Ionians rallied to put together a few phases; carries from George Mewburn and Alan Hudson got them going forward and Lucas Powell latched onto a pop pass to plunge to the line. He knocked the ball on in the process but Ionians came back for a penalty. Ben Smith found touch and Ionians rumbled the ball infield towards the posts before switching play to the backline. Sam Pocklington had half a dart for the line, creating a gap for Lewis Minikin to exploit and he skipped his way over for Ionians first try, he knocked over the conversion for good measure and the deficit was down to 15 points with half time fast approaching.
There was still time for drama. Hull went in search of more points before the whistle and during the concerted attack Mewburn was judged to have put in a late tackle and was despatched to the bin. Disastrous.
Ionians opened the second half with a Minikin penalty but Hull hit back straight away. The pack carried well, making yards over the gain line and creating space for Astley to dance his way past some questionable defending and through to the line. Hobson’s conversion took the lead to 10 – 29 and Ionians still had five minutes to see out without Mewburn.
It was two minutes too long. Back came Hull, looking to put the game to bed. Adlard made a scintillating break down the far touch, he looked to have run up a blind alley only for Ally Heard to spring into view. He took the pass and crashed his way over for a try. Although the kick went wide, at 10 – 34, job done, surely.
Ionians were restored to full numbers. Following the re-start Hull were pinned on their 22. They attempted to break away with a succession of drives from the pack but made no headway what so ever. Harding resorted to kicking but Kobby Fofie showed his exceptional athleticism to charge down the kick, gather the loose ball and set Powell away to the line. Minikin added the extras to pull the score back to 17 – 34 with just shy of half an hour to go.
The tide was turning. Ionians laid siege to the Hull line, after a prolonged forward effort the ball was swung out to the backs, then switched back inside, for Minikin to skip through, score the try, add the goal and reduce the arrears to 10 points. Just less than fifteen minutes left to play.
The home sides’ forward domination began to provide the sort of possession on which any back line should thrive and it led to a straight forward score for Cam Burnhill. Foffie secured line-out ball, the pack trundled on, then gave the ball to Pocklington and, via Minikin, it was passed across to pick Burnhill out, virtually unattended, and he slid over to score.
It was now a one score game, 29 – 34. A barn-storming run from Faraimo put Hull into the home “red zone”. Ionians dealt with the drives from the pack only to be penalised for a high tackle and then, as advantage was been played, for not releasing. Hull took Hobson’s choice for a penalty virtually in front of the posts and he converted to edge the visitors further in front. Seven minutes remained of the match.
In the final minutes Pocklington took a quick tap, with the home side benefiting from a series of penalties, and set Minikin away. He galloped 40 yards before being stopped, the ball was kept moving forward through Foffie, Callum Sanderson and McDaniel until Ionians were up to the line. Playing with continuous advantage, as Hull were run ragged, Ionians appeared to be in for a try until the illegal intervention of Heard. Mr Woods had little choice than to send the Hull skipper to the bin and award a penalty try. Play was into the final minute.
Ionians gathered the kick-off and Mewburn briefly lifted the crowd with a burst down the touch but he ran out of space, Hull gathered up the loose ball and, despite some confusion in the ranks, ran into touch.
That was it. For the second week in a row Ionians succumbed to a one-point defeat. It was as equally disappointing as last time out. Irrespective of the opposition (nobody likes to lose a derby match) Ionians should have won both games.
Ionians’ recent performances have been bejewelled by the rough-cut diamond that is George Mewburn. Around him are a good number of gems, James Sanderson has been less showy but is exemplary in everything he does. There are also the odd few semi-precious stones, however, overall, they seem fixed in a setting of fool’s gold; a mixture of questionable decision making, indiscipline and debatable tactics. There is a couple of weeks to mull it over. Merry Christmas.