Hull Ionians left it late to record a victory in their opening fixture following the return to N2N.Trailing with the final whistle only moments away, they conjured up a try and conversion to snatch the win in a high scoring encounter that saw the lead change on eight occasions.
Tigers had all the early possession and were rewarded for their persistence with a penalty to open the scoring. Ionians then hit their straps, Tinknell making inroads into the visitors 22 before the forwards rumbled on to challenge the try line and earn a penalty try.
Both sides then had players sent to the bin, discipline deserting players in the late summer sun, allowing Tigers’ Mark Ireland to cut the deficit with another success at goal.
The visitors re-took the lead with 20 minutes played when scrum-half Ryan Holmes nipped through a gap from the base of a wheeling scrum before offloading to Lee Monks for the No. 8 to plunge over. Ionians re-grouped but despite some patient build-up play Sheffield held firm and the remainder of the half was played out in mid field with no further score.
Ionians injected some much needed pace and intensity into their play for the opening to the second period and a Sam Wilson break was carried on by the pack to drive over and James Sanderson to claim the try. Green added the first of his four conversions to give the hosts a one point advantage.
This lasted all of a minute with the outstanding Peter Swatkins profiting from an Ionians mistake to race in for Sheffield. Ireland was wide with the goal attempt but Tigers were back in front with a 4 point advantage.
Ionians, realising where their superiority lay, tucked the ball up their shirts to rumble over for a try for Ben Stephenson, following a line-out catch and drive. They repeated the feat five minutes later with James Newman finishing the move to go two scores clear.
Tigers hit back to cut the deficit. Incisive back play, which was a feature of Tigers game all afternoon, lead to a try for Henry Packard after Swatkins had carved his way through the Ionians defence.
Ionians responded to the threat and pressed hard to extend the lead. A weaving run from fullback Seremaia Turagabeci put Ionians on the front foot but a long flat pass was anticipated by the experienced James Broadley and he was gifted a run in from 50m to put the visitors two points in front.
Ireland stroked over a third penalty to push the score to 28 – 33 and a reinvigorated Tigers looked to play out the remaining 7 minutes to claim victory.
The home side rallied with a series of forward drives, seeking retain possession and work their way to the line; the clock was ticking remorselessly to the 80 minute mark and all seemed lost until the ubiquitous James Sanderson broke blind from a maul and powered down the flank before passing to Wilson to cross. Green added the goal to gain victory.