Firstly, I must thank Chris Taylor for “filling in” and providing reports over the last couple of weeks. Being a part-time, work from home public sector employee it was no surprise Chris thought cut and paste would be acceptable, but it can be a difficult and disheartening task recording the events of an Ionians match of late and anything is better than nothing at all.

For the first twenty odd minutes of the game against Billingham it was difficult to even watch. The home side struggled to cope with the sheer physical challenge that Billingham posed and to come to terms with the referee’s interpretation of what constitutes a high tackle. They should have known better; Mr Jones has officiated in a number of fixtures involving Ionians and is consistent in his displeasure on anything he sees occurring above the navel.

By the time the penny dropped Ionians were 14 points down and had Ben Smith in the bin.

Billingham subjected the home side to an early pummelling from their portly pack and front rower Adam Brown barged over from close range after eight minutes.

Soon after, Brown’s fellow prop, Dan Dixon, manoeuvred himself into a position where he was able to pick out Dan Burns on the charge and he smashed his way to the line for a second try. Peter Evans added the extras to both scores and Billingham were dictating affairs, with the hosts unable to gain any meaningful possession.

Billingham soon went further ahead, this time proving they had more than one string to their bow. Half backs Evans and Elliott Husband orchestrated some good play along the back line to get to within 10m of the Ionians line. With the ball secured at the breakdown Evans put in a pin point cross kick into the waiting arms of Joe Scarborough, who had little more to do than step forward and dot down. Evans was again on target and Billingham were scoring at roughly a point a minute, dispiriting for the home supporters (Ashley Applegarth headed across to watch the Buccs).

He missed the yellow card brandished at Dixon, who failed to bend sufficiently at the waist in his attempt to tackle Cam Burnhill

Ionians finally got into their stride; benefiting from possession gained from a ball dislodged during an excellent tackle, George Mewburn gathered and turned defence into attack with a barn storming break. Ionians took the ball down to the corner before quick transfer swept the ball back across field for Jimmy McDaniel to make a dart for the line. He was held but the ball was worked to Scott Westwood who raced the 5m to the line.

Ionians used a couple of penalties to once again take play down into the corner. Line-out ball was driven on but once held the ball was swept across the field and McDaniel was able to slide over. Lewis Minikin nailed the difficult conversion and pleased with his work, took the players off for the half time break.

Would Billingham get their second wind or would Ionians maintain their impetus from the final minutes of the first half?

It only took two minutes to find out. Cam Burnhill gathered a clearing kick and returned it with a raking punt that put Ionians to within 10m of the line. They disrupted the throw and the pack gathered and drove for the line, with Mewburn powering over for the try. Minikin’s successful kick brought Ionians to within two points, 19 – 21.

There was an element of panic in the visitor’s response and some frantic play ended when a speculative long pass from centre field towards the wing was comfortably plucked from the air by McDaniel, who raced 50 yards down the touchline to grab his second try.

A try from Dixon, who used his physique to barrel over from a line-out, tied the scores and earned Billingham a bonus point, but they looked spent.

Four minutes later McDaniel put Ionians back in front and completed his hat-trick but he will acknowledge he owed it to Burnhill, who’s scorching pace took him away down the stand-side touch and away from the defenders before putting McDaniel clear away to the line. Another quality conversion from the reliable Minikin put the hosts six points clear as the match entered the final quarter.

Ionians were very much in control. They pushed Billingham back 25 yards with a driving maul and when the green and whites transgressed Ben Smith put the ball to the corner.

Ionians won the line-out but Mewburn was judged to have been held up over the line. It was little respite for beleaguered Billingham. The drop out was gathered and swept across to Burnhill. He set off, with the eager McDaniel on his shoulder, feinted to pass and sped away to the line. Minikin made it five from six attempts to give Ionians a 40 – 26 advantage with barely two minutes to play.

Billingham had one last rally but were unable to re-discover the destructive power of the opening exchanges and Ionians saw the game out to record a much needed win.