Hull Ionians did their N1 hopes a power of good with this five point/five points win over Cambridge. The visitors, inspired by half backs Stef Liebenberg and Jack Green, took an early grip on the game, playing a high tempo style that had the hosts fully occupied with defensive duties and they scored two tries in the opening quarter hour.
The first score came after 9 minutes, with centre James Ayrton running onto a deft grubber kick from Green, following an incursion from the pack and minutes later Liebenberg took a quick tap penalty (one of many) to put Albert Portsmouth into space and he fed the supporting back rower, Jake McCloud to cross, with the Ionians defence opened with consummate ease.
Ionians learned valuable lessons and they reduced the deficit with Callum Irvine and Lewis Minikin combining to cut a hole through the visitor’s defence, Phil Eggleshaw drove on and he popped a pass out to James Sanderson who ran in unmolested.
Eggleshaw was then dispatched to the bin and a revitalised Cambridge pack pushed for the line, allowing Liebenberg to send out a looping pass to Ayrton to cross unopposed.
Restored to a full complement Ionians produced a powerful scrum to escape from close to their line to half way but then breathed a sigh of relief when winger, Mike Ayrton, was brought back for deliberate obstruction after he was allowed to jink his way through and clear up the touchline and Ionians went into the break 7 – 19 in arrears.
Ionians had an opportunity early in the second half but pressure on the visitors line came to nothing and they had to wait until close to the hour to benefit from plenty of possession; Greg Lound made the initial break with the pack carrying the ball on before winger Wilson grasped possession and sprinted away. Despite being caught he was able to off load to the supporting Isaac Green and he dotted down under the posts.
As Cambridge came under increasing pressure they had Mike Ayrton yellow carded and from the resulting penalty Ionians won a line-out, after the initial drive from the pack the ball was switched down the blind side to put Sam Wilson over. The Isaac Green conversion gave the hosts the lead for the first time with 15 minutes remaining.
Cambridge responded with a scintillating try involving sublime skills from Jack Green, who’s reverse pass picked out Albert Portsmouth who raced over to snatch back the lead, 21 – 26.
The inexplicable removal of Liebenberg severely blunted the visitors cutting edge and the Ionians pack were shading the forward exchanges. The home side botched a scoring opportunity but they were awarded a penalty which was kicked to the corner. A successful catch and drive took them to within 5 yards and Ally Forth popped up and through the middle of the ruck to score. Ionians now held a narrow 2 point lead, 28 – 26.
Further pressure extended the lead through a Callum Irvine drop goal, not the best option given the referee was signalling a free ball, but Ionians were able to see out the final minutes without presenting a sniff to the opposition and recorded a much needed, and deserved, victory.