DMP 26 v 41 Hull Ionians

Ionians secured their place in the National leagues with another five-point win, this week at DMP’s Northern Echo Stadium, in the final fixture of an exacting season.
Ionians made an inauspicious start when the home centres combined to cut through the midfield for James Barnard to open the scoring with their first piece of decent possession. On the resumption of the match, after a delay whilst Ali Thomson received treatment for a head injury, Isaac Green cut the deficit with a penalty, following good work from the pack.
DMP looked dangerous in possession, using Talite Vaioleti and Simon Uzokwe to make the initial inroads before Gary Law orchestrated some slick back play. I’s were fortunate that Aquile Smith was on hand to scoop up a loose ball and sprint clear as the hosts pressed for a further try, but the ball was turned over and Park were soon back on the attack.
The hosts second try came after 25 minutes when powerful winger, Shaun McCartney, was given too much space and he dismissed two tacklers to cross in the corner.
It was a pretty brutal and physical encounter but I’s began to get their second wind and when the ball flew loose Ed Falkingham gathered it and strode away, showing tremendous speed and stamina to outpace all comers in a 60m run to the line. Isaac Green converted to cut the margin to two points.
Sheer persistence and determination secured I’s good field position, they were awarded a penalty and the indomitable Green put Ionians into the lead with his second success. Green was just short with another long range attempt minutes later, when DMP were guilty of killing the ball, with Sam Wilson harrying the full-back into the error.
Ionians had put in a sterling defensive effort, but a lapse in concentration, and a clear forward pass, allowed Simon Uzokwe to race under the posts. The successful conversion closed the half with DMP 19- 13 to the good.
The visitors were first to register on the scoreboard in the second half when a good drive from the pack was driven over and Ally Forth was the man with ball in hand to dot down. Green again dissected the uprights to give Ionians a one point advantage.
The Ionians forwards continued to turn the screw and with the Park pack under pressure Uzokwe was dispatched to the bin. From 5m out a scrum looked the obvious option but I’s kicked to the corner. A successful catch was driven towards the line but was held, permitting the ball to be switched to Callum Irvine; one dummy and he was through and over the line, Green again successful with the kick and the visitors were 19 – 25 in front.
On the hour Irvine extended the lead when he was the first to react and touch the ball down after confusion brought play temporally to a halt, with no infringement indicated by the officials and after consultation, the try was signaled and Ionians had a sizable lead, 19 – 34 going into the final quarter.
Park were far from finished. A raft of replacements gave them fresh impetus and Josh Williams broke 50m up field to get DMP into the 22, a series of drives were finally successful with Uzokwe attributed with the try having been driven over from close range. With a little over five minutes remaining the margin was reduced to 26- 34.
Having had plenty of practice Ionians have learned to hold their nerve. The pack took a vice like grip on possession and worked the ball up towards the DMP goal line. The unrelenting progress sucked in the home defence, leaving Andy Humberstone unmarked out on the wing. Irvine spotted him and put in an inch perfect kick which Humberstone gathered and calmly stepped forward to score. Isaac Green added his sixth goal of the afternoon to give Ionians an unassailable lead, the match in it’s final throes, and Ionians survived to fight another day.