Sheffield Tigers 23 v 24 Hull Ionians

This game was every bit as close as the scoreline suggests; despite Ionians opening the scoring in the second minute, they didn’t retake the lead until two minutes remained. They could still have blown it, when they conceded a penalty, only for Jamie Rudd’s goal attempt, the final play of the game, to drift just wide.
Borthwickian statisticians would doubtless point out that the visitors had much more possession, gained a territorial advantage, which had them spending a considerable amount of time in the opposition “red zone” and crossed over for three tries compared to two.
But, of course, there are lies, damned lies and statistics. A truth is that Ionians did have more of the play and the better part of the pitch but failed to make the most of it through a combination of careless handling, culpably poor kicking and questionable discipline, but by far and away most significant, was a dogged and determined defensive performance from the home side.
It was impressive, but ultimately not enough. Ionians found a way to overcome their own issues and a resolute Tigers effort to record their 15th win of the season, nine of which have come on their travels, and cement fourth place in N2N.
Will Wood, (on loan from Rotherham and well known to the Dore Moor faithful) got Ionians off to a flying start. Greg Minikin had made inroads into the Tigers mid-field before the ball was moved out to Cam Burnhill, who weaved his way down the clubhouse touchline. The ball came back across field to winger Wood and he saw off several Tigers players to power over close to the corner. Ben Smith struck a beauty off the tee for an early 7 point lead.
It was an advantage that lasted all of a minute. Tigers gathered the box kick, returned from the re-start, and moved the ball left and right, going through the phases to create room for Miles Dodsworth to cut diagonally in field off the wing and dot down under the posts. Rudd accepted the routine conversion to tie the score.
Ionians spent the best part of the next fifteen minutes denying the home side much of a look at the ball whilst demonstrating a well drilled driving maul. It looked to be effective until it floundered on the rocks of determination set out along the Tigers try line.
Sheffield eventually broke up field and from a scum on half way found touch on the Ionians 22. Ionians won the line and the ball was hoisted skywards to be collected by Dodsworth, who swung a pass to set Rudd away back over the half way line. He looped a pass across to Jamie Broadley who took it at pace to carve his way through to the line. Rudd tagged on the extras for a 14 – 7 lead.
Ionians thought they had come back to level terms with a break from Burnhill taking him clear, but play was brought back for a forward pass and Tigers took full advantage of the let-off when Rudd kicked a penalty, after Ionians were penalised at a ruck, to push the score on to 17 – 7.
Another penalty on the stroke of half-time, following an infringement at a scrum, gifted Tigers another three points and the home side went in at half -time with a relatively sizeable lead, 20 – 7. Ionians had failed to make enough of their chances to be anything other than be behind at the break.
Ionians started the second half playing up the hill and on the offensive. They were held up over the line and following a frank exchange of views involving most of the players on both sides, Tigers dropped out from under the posts to clear.
The kick fell to Minikin and he clattered into the on-rushing line. The ball was popped up by Sam Pocklington to Joe Makin and he flicked it back across to James Watts who went racing through the gap and under the posts. It was a lovely move, one that we have seen before and will hopefully see again. 20 -14 after 45 minutes of play.
Indiscipline caught Ionians out again; from the re-start they were caught offside on the 22, in front of the posts, and Rudd gratefully accepted the three points on offer.
Another chance then went begging for the visitors; George Hotchen made a good break in front of the clubhouse but failed to pick out Burnhill racing up on his inside. Despite re-gathering the loose ball and pressing to the line Ionians were again penalised and Tigers cleared downfield.
Here they remained to apply some sustained pressure. Ionians defence proved as impenetrable as the home sides had been, so after the forwards had failed to make any headway Will Baker switched play and was unlucky when his cross-field kick just failed to pick out Dodsworth, who knocked on as he scrambled for the ball.
Smith put in a good kick to take play back into the Tigers half. Hotchen and Minikin both threaten the line but Tigers hold firm. From a scrum 5 yards out Adam Brankley picked up and drove for the line. He was stopped just short, as was Makin and Ben Stephenson when they drove in, but the pack re-grouped and Archie Upton was at the back of the breakdown and he grabbed the ball and burrowed over for the try. Smith knocked over the easy conversion to fetch Ionians to within two points of the hosts, 23 – 21, with just over five minutes remaining.
Tigers took the re-start into the Ionians 22 but they conceded a penalty and Smith put in a raking kick to take play up to the home 22. Tigers were penalised again at the line-out and after the advantage came to nought Ionians elected to go for goal. Smith obliged and Ionians took a one point lead into the final two minutes.
Tigers launched one final attack and James Sanderson was harshly adjudged to have gone off his feet at the breakdown. This presented Rudd with one last chance of glory. It was a lengthy 40 yard range; he had the distance but not the direction and it drifted narrowly wide. That was that, a one-point victory for Ionians in an enthralling, hard fought affair.
Jack Gillingwater hasn’t had a mention, which is an oversight. He had an outstanding game and showed he is perfectly capable of operating at this level. He was selected as the Ionians MoM by the opposition, believe Jack, believe.