Hull Ionians 27 v 34 Sedgley Park

Hull Ionians’ proud home record went in disappointing fashion to a Sedgley side who looked more like league leaders and who had a greater advantage than the score suggests.
The Tigers scored four well constructed tries to garner maximum points, but it could have been more, with the solid defensive wall, so evident last week at Huddersfield twice breached within the opening quarter of an hour and reduced to rubble by a Collins inspired back line well before the final whistle.
Ionians made a bright enough start but the portents of what was to come emerged early with Tigers disrupting Ionians at the line-out and tearing into the home backline to force errors and indecision. The hosts weren’t helped by the official’s unwillingness to impose anything that resembled an offside line but Ionians demise lay squarely in their inability to retain possession and match the pace and enthusiasm of the opposition.
Sedgley’s opening try came courtesy of some dynamic work from the forwards, freeing up the ball to be moved along the line where a long pass from Matt Riley found his name-sake Andrew who cantered over in the corner. Collins added the first of six successful goals to give Tigers a 0-7 lead.
Sedgley continued to attack at pace and Ionians were carved open by Oliver Glasse, coming off his wing to run through the mid-field before passing on to Matt Riley to run on and dot down under the posts. 0-14.
A poor clearance kick put Ionians under more pressure as Riley ran the ball back with interest but a rare loose pass from Collins was seized on by Steve Slingsby who had the legs to gallop 80m to put Ionians back in the match, 7 – 14, with Minikin adding the straight forward conversion.
Collins extended the lead with a penalty, awarded for a high tackle, before Minikin replied 10 minutes later as Ionians settled for the three points, a very poor reward for the exertions of the forwards who had pummelled away at the Tigers try line but a testament to the visitor’s determination.
Sedgley grabbed another well executed try; Collins cut loose just within his own half, having drawn the cover he passed onto Matt Riley who slung the ball out to Andrew who danced his way round four players before touching down. Sedgley went to the break with a healthy and deserved lead, 10 – 24.
Ionians cut the deficit within five minutes of the re-start; more sloppy play had seen them forfeit a promising position only for Sedgley to be equally profligate and Ed Falkingham’s persistence, harrying and hacking away at a loose ball, presented Slingby with the chance to run in for second try to put Ionians back in the running, 17 – 24.
With Sedgley in increasing need of the physio’s attention play was frequently interrupted but when they were in action the visitor’s were able to create room and an extra man almost at will. Under pressure and against the run of play Ionians were given a penalty for holding on and Minikin obliged with the goal to pull Ionians to within four points.
From the re-start Sedgley missed the chance to grab the bonus point try when Max Skofic ignored three players outside him electing instead to plough into the covering defence but it only caused a minor delay with Sedgley maintaining possession to create the opportunity for Richard Lepori to scramble over close to the touch line, Collins preserved his record off the tee with a well judged effort to put the Tigers two scores clear with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Could the increasingly tiring visitors hold out? Ionians kept hold of the ball for the remainder of the game, looking of a way to fashion a score. Despite their best efforts to cock it up Ionians retained possession long enough for Lewis Minikin to show his predatory instincts to weave his way over. He then added the goal to give Ionians a point that keeps them precariously positioned at the top of the table. Any more performances like this and it will be mid table mediocrity, at best.