Hull Ionians v Macclesfield

Hull Ionians maintained an impressive home record, 37 consecutive wins in N2N fixtures, to remain at the top of the league as the half way stage of the current campaign approaches. With 58 points they must have achieved the first target of the season, which was to avoid relegation. Now let’s see if the team can live the dream…
Visitors Macclesfield may feel aggrieved to have been defeated, having held a 6- 16 lead with the scoreboard clock showing 82 minutes, but Ionians staged a remarkable comeback to score two tries and snatch a win before the referee eventually blew for time.
Ionians had much the better of possession and territory for the opening half but despite the surfeit only led by a drop goal from debutant Morgan Bunting and a penalty by Lewis Minikin to a well-executed try by winger Myles Hall. Hall came across from his wing to join the line and race in after his forwards had driven on from a line-out on the only occasion in the first period that Macclesfield threatened in the hosts half of the pitch.
Ionians should have made more of a prolonged period camped on the Macclesfield line, especially with Macclesfield reduced to 14 men, but a demined defence prevented the normally prolific driving maul from extending the slender home advantage.
Ionians made a bright start to the second half with Jerry Turagabeci breaking free to set Minikin away, but early promise came to nought and Macclesfield came more into the game. On the hour Tom Morton put over a penalty to give Macclesfield the lead. This gave them a new confidence and they dominated play with forwards and backs combining well to put the hosts under pressure. They added another try scored by Morton, following good approach play, to lead 6 -13.
Morton kicked a second penalty and Macclesfield went looking to add to their haul. Under pressure Ionians had Sam Crane sent to the bin and all looked lost for the league leaders.
Then came the remarkable recovery. Sam Rees, on as a replacement for his first outing of the season, scored following pressure from the pack. Minikin added the extras to fetch the scores close at 13-16 and give Ionians a point.
From the re-start I’s showed commendable control, commitment and intent during the final throes of a previously uneventful fixture. In the gathering gloom the handling and perspicacity were exemplary, producing an unprecedented number of phases until Macclesfield eventually succumbed, allowing Lewis Minikin through a gap and over the line. The conversion was missed but Ionians cared not, having snatched the unlikeliest of victories, 18 – 16.