Ionians overcame a spirited Harrogate to maintain their winning start to the season. The weather, a beautifully warm and sunny early autumn afternoon, was the only thing that was mild in a physical and committed opening half hour.
Though the intensity dipped a little thereafter, the effort and willingness of both sides to play open and attacking rugby was maintained throughout to deliver an exciting and entertaining fixture.
It was as well that Ionians found more at their disposal that line-out success, because on this occasion it faltered against a disruptive Harrogate Eight, though they themselves were unable to rely on their own throw as a dependable supply of possession.
It added to the spectacle, with both sides feeding off errors to turn play one way then quickly the other; Harrogate keen to utilise their pace out wide and Ionians calling on the more direct approach of backs Howells, Holden and Townend.
The home side were first on the scoreboard; scrum-half Wilson exploited the blind-side from the base of a scrum and sent Amrit Sharma away to dance up the touchline and cross for a try. Jack Mallinson added the conversion for a 7 – 0 lead.
Within two minutes Ionians had hit back. The forwards and backs combined to make ground to give Jack Deighton enough room to squeeze over in the corner. Ben Smith slotted over the difficult conversion to level the scores.
Ionians held territorial advantage and put several penalties into touch in good attacking positions but failed to capitalise initially, even declining a very easy three points in pursuit of greater rewards. The try came eventually, when Ben Smith produced what I am reliably informed is his “Cilla Black”* to go over close to the posts.
The opportunity for such a rare event came thanks to the unstinting effort of James Sanderson to secure any loose ball and powerful bursts from Ben Hyde and Chris Morton to get the ball up close to the line and across to Smith. An easy two points put Ionians 7 – 14 up.
A booming clearance kick from Smith took Ionians from deep in their own half, 60 yards up field, to within 15 yards of the Harrogate line. The catch was good and on went the drive, which crabbed infield before being released to Ben Smith who delivered an exquisitely delayed pass for Jack Howells to steam on to and crash over. The conversion was good and Ionians extended the lead to 7 – 21 after half an hour of play.
Ionians knocked on from the re-start and Harrogate move the ball smartly from the scrum, along the line to winger James Magee who slipped from the clutches of his marker to break free and score. A good conversion from Mallison reduced the deficit to 7 points, 14 – 21.
Ionians tried another couple of penalties to the corner without re-creating the success of recent matches but finally got everything right on the stroke of half time, first phase ball being transferred across the line for Jack Townend to gallop up into the line and accelerate away to score the bonus point try. Ben Smith’s conversion brought the half to a close with the visitors 14 – 28 ahead.
Ionians began the second half on the offensive and won a succession of scrums close to the Harrogate line. As the penalty count rose Mr Connor felt the need to issue disciplinary measures and prop Jacob Percival was dispatched to the bin.
Ionians made the advantage tell within a minute. With an extra man they took the option of a scrum and Sam Pocklington picked out winger Peter Hudson- Kowalewicz down the narrow side and he strolled in for a try.
Harrogate recovered and took play into the Ionians half. The visitors upset Mr Connor with a concession of infringements, causing the temporary removal of James Sanderson, but despite the loss Ionians were able to keep Harrogate away from their line, although it required and excellent last gasp tackle from Antony Newell to do so. The home team couldn’t make anything of a 5m scrum and Ionians cleared the danger.
It was Ionians who struck, once both sides were restored to a full complement. They carried the ball up the field via the pack before switching play out to Jack Deighton who got to within inches of the line before being brought down. He had plenty of support and Maliq Holden picked up and drove over. Smith added the extras to extend the advantage to 26 points, 14 – 40.
A typically powerful run from Greg Minikin took Harrogate up to the Ionians 22, good defence from Joe Makin and Jack Gillingwater stopped any immediate progress but Harrogate established camp and battered away towards the line. The protective wall held initially but perseverance eventually created a gap for Kodie Brooke to drive over. Mallinson landed an excellent conversion to go three from three and Harrogate had a chance of a late bonus point, if they could claim another try in the five minutes remaining.
As it turned out, unfortunately not. It was the visitors who claimed the final score, demonstrating that they can orchestrate a catch and drive. Ben Stephenson got it heading in the right direction before he slid from the driving seat of the steamrollering maul to crash over. Ben Smith completed a very satisfactory afternoon, both personally and for the team, with the conversion.
That is four bonus point wins from four matches and the performances have improved (line-out aside) in each. Next week Wharfedale are at Brantingham Park, after a shaky start they had a first win of the season against previously unbeaten ‘hoppers. It should be a good afternoon.

* Step inside, Luv.