Hull Ionians 38 v 29 Tynedale
HT 26 – 12, FT 38 – 29
Attendance – 445
Star man – Lewis Minikin
Referee – Jamie Leahy

Hull Ionians hosted their annual Presidents Charity Lunch in support of local charity Hull SANDS. The players were wearing specially designed shirts, auctioned during the lunch, and the shirts weren’t the only charitable item taken onto the pitch, with the hosts relaxing late in the game to allow visitors Tynedale to score three unanswered tries to gain a valuable try bonus point.
Ionians coach, Paul Cook, was critical of the side’s late let-up. “We played well in patches but lacked consistency and a ruthlessness for the full 80 minutes. We moved the ball well at times and had a good set piece. Defensively, we have to be disappointed with the last 10 minutes, we pride ourselves on our defence but did not stick to the systems. If the players want to aspire to the level required for N1 they need to learn these valuable lessons, but it is a young, inexperienced squad and we are back to winning ways”.
Tynedale’s DoR, Ben Woods was more philosophical. “We were disappointed not to have earned the extra losing point, but I am frustrated that we had let the game get away from us in the opening 60 minutes, leaving only the bonus points to play for. Ionians are a good side and took their opportunities well, as you would expect from a team at the top. As a squad we have come a long way from the start of the season, with what is a new group from last year, they are good guys and we look to carry on the progress into the second half of the season”.
Ionians controlled the early stages without gaining any reward against a resolute defence. Tynedale then gained possession and were first on the scoreboard with Chris Wearmouth barging over following a series of scrums close to the Ionians line.
The home side responded from the re-start, Tynedale were caught off-side and the resulting penalty was drilled into touch 5m from the visitors line. A clean catch and drive was taken over for James Newman to claim the try and tie the scores.
Ionians took the lead after centre Billy Hardy recovered well from a handling error to burst powerfully through the first line of defence before setting Lewis Minikin away on a 60m race to the line. Minikin goaled for a 12 – 5 lead.
Minikin bagged a second five minutes later when he latched onto an off load from Tom Stephenson who had ghosted past his marker following good close driving support play from the pack.
Some seasonal generosity gave Tynedale a second try. Elusive wingman, Ben Beaumont, had an easy run in as the Ionians tackling took a break and Beaumont skipped past several opponents to score. Rob Parker added the conversion to pull the score back to 19 – 12.
Ionians should have made more of an opportunity created when Steve Slingsby fielded a punt deep in his own half and set off towards the Tynedale try line, he was caught and dragged to ground but the ball was transferred out to Minikin who weaved his way down the touch. With Sam Rees cruising up in support only the timely intervention of Will Miller prevented an easy run in.
Ionians did pull clear when Sam Crane finished off an impressive build up featuring a scintillating run from Sam Wilson and a powerful surge and well-judged pass from Ed Falkingham. Ionians went to the break leading 26 – 12.
James Sanderson improved the advantage with a try in the opening minutes of the second half, grabbing the ball and diving over from close quarters to complete another drive from the pack. When Ben Stephenson carried over at the back of another well executed line-out catch and drive on the hour, Ionians should have been home and dry.
Tynedale had other ideas. The forwards attacked the hosts line and though it initially looked as if the home line was impenetrable Tynedale showed commendable patience and control and finally created a gap for Guy Pike to exploit to the full for a well-deserved try.
The hosts failed to instigate an appropriate response to Tynedale’s late resurgence and were then needlessly reduced to 14 men. Tynedale took full and immediate advantage, exploiting the extra space created to stretch the Ionians defence. Tynedale threw the ball across the field and back to give Wearmouth a second try from close range.
Having gained one bonus point Tynedale went in search of greater reward and replacement back-rower, Joe Richards, ran in Tynedale’s fifth try with full time fast approaching, taking them uncomfortably close at 38 – 29. Fortunately for Ionians there was to be no repeat of the recent home fixture against Macclesfield and Mr Leahy brought proceedings to a close with no further damage inflicted. The victory brought the year to a close and settled a nervy month, with Ionians still ensconced at the top of the N2N tree.