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1st XV
Matches
Sat 01 Feb 2025  ·  National League 2 North
Chester
Tries: J Hanson, A McMinimee, T Ellis, S Robson, D Jones, G SpaldingConversions: M Bagshaw (3), A McMinimee
38
33
Hull Ionians RUFC
1st XV
Tries: A Hudson, J Sanderson, B Stephenson, S PocklingtonConversions: L Minikin (2)Penalties: L Minikin (3)
01/02/2025 – Chester 38 v Hull Ionians 33.

01/02/2025 – Chester 38 v Hull Ionians 33.

Dan Pinder2 Feb - 22:02

What did I say last week about ‘Cut & Paste’!

01/02/2025 – Chester 38 v Hull Ionians 33.

What did I say last week about ‘Cut & Paste’!

Another match that we could so easily have won goes begging and again we come home with 2 Bonus points.

Chester came out on top in match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout, and which was ultimately decided by ‘Young George’ blowing for time as HI’s were pressing for a winning score, but more of that later.

The hosts opened brightly with their forwards taking a leading role right from kick-off. This lead to hooker Hanson finishing off a pushover on 2mins. The conversion was missed. 5-0.
More was to follow from the hosts as on 16mins, centre McMinimee scorched over from long range after a daring intercept. Conversion missed. 10-0.

The HI’s faithful were now beginning to wonder, as with recent games, just how much of a lead we will allow the opposition before getting into this game
Thankfully, not much, as the HI’s forwards began to take control and gain territory. Mainly thanks to several solid set pieces. This was backed by some strong running from Britton & Minikin and suddenly we were looking competitive.
On 22mins, Chester infringed at the breakdown and HI’s skipper rightly asked Lewis Minikin to open the scoring for HI’s. Lewis duly obliged with a penalty. 10-3.
The HI’s forwards were now in the ascendancy, dominating the loose play exchanges, with the back-row to the fore and, winning both their scrums and line-outs with ease. It was only fitting that on 31mins, the ever industrious Alan Hudson finished off a good forwards try. Minikin converted. 10-10.
Then, on 34mins, a strong break by HI’s full-back Cam Burnhill led to a try by the equally industrious James Sanderson. Minikin converted 10-17.
We now had reasons to be optimistic but as we have seen all too often, we are never so vulnerable as when we have just scored.
On 35 mins, Chester’s Bagshaw put No.8 Jones through a gap in the HI’s defence, he slipped the ball inside to scrum-half Ellis who scampered home. Conversion good. 17-17
Half-Time - 17-17 and, anyone’s game.
The start of the second-half belonged to HI’s with some powerful forward play, which again led to infringements from the hosts and quickly brought two penalty chances for Lewis Minikin. Both were converted and on 44mins HI’s led 17-23.
Again, good strong forward play and confident line-out takes by Lucas Powell brought another forwards try. On 60mins Ben Stephenson crashed over following a powerful break by Josh Britton. Conversion missed. 17-28.
Then, on 64mins, as Chester pressed forwards, some immaculate reading of the game led to Sam Pocklington intercepting the pass on the HI’s 22m line and sprinting the length of the field to score. Conversion missed again. 17-33.

HI’s now had a 16pt lead and the faithful were buzzing but, we have been here before and that 16pt lead lasted all of 2mins. Chester refused to accept defeat and up’ed their work rate, helped by the introduction of scrum-half & club captain Harry Craven. Chester went on to score 3 converted tries in the next 12mins to put them 38-33 in front with 2mins of the match left.
The HI’s faithful were now bemused and lost for words but, with time running out we gained a penalty which was kicked into the corner for a good attacking line-out. Now, on current form, we were by no means confident of the outcome but we caught well and drove towards the Chester line. The HI’s forwards were making good progress and a score looked on the cards but, as we had seen in the first half, the Chester forwards ‘somehow’ held us out and the maul collapsed just short of the line.
The faithful were calling for another penalty or, even ‘Penalty Try’ from the more optimistic of us. ‘Young George’ was having none of it and made the incredulous decision to blow for full time. 38-33 and 2 Bonus Pts.
I will remain open minded on how we were prevented from scoring and I would like to see the video before suggesting ‘Young George’ got it wrong but, there were all of the signs of the maul being collapsed by the defending forwards.

This defeat means we drop a place and now sit 8th in Nat 2 North and, we remain the only club outside of the top 4 to have a positive points difference.

We have now lost by a converted try or less to Wharfedale, Sheffield, Tynedale, Otley, Hull, Leeds, Fylde twice and now Chester. That is 9 games, with at least 5 we should have won.
This has resulted in us gaining 20 bonus pts, which is more bonus points than any other Club in Nat 2 North.
Unfortunately, we have not won a match since hammering Preston away on 7th December but, let’s hope we can turn that corner with next week’s home match v Billingham.

Apologies from myself and the President who will be absent on International duty.

Match details

Match date

Sat 01 Feb 2025

Kickoff

15:00

Location

Competition

National League 2 North

League position

7
Chester
8
Hull Ionians
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