Hull 31 v 29 Hull Ionians

Hull RUFC 31 v 29 Hull Ionians.

A local derby, with something more than bragging rights hanging on the result, made for a thoroughly enthralling afternoon at Chanterlands Avenue. Hull, after a disciplined and determined campaign, needed just a point to ensure promotion to National 1, Ionians only had the prescience that a victory may sabotage the celebrations. Which would be the greater motivation?
Hull set about their task like champions – elect and had a score on the board within the opening five minutes; centre Steve Johnson made a half break enabling Duell Trueman to pick an excellent line to cut back across on a diagonal run and he just managed to outpace George Mewburn to score in the corner. The dependable Humberstone judged the stiff breeze well to add the conversion, 7 – 0 to the hosts.
This wasn’t a party Ionians were invited to and they set about some reparation. With the wind on their backs, they were able to pin Hull in their own half. The forwards stopped any advances from the home pack in their tracks and Jack Townend ran the ball back with interest when the home side looked to escape via Humberstone’s boot.
Ionians were awarded a penalty and Ben Smith put Ionians to within 5m of the line; a text book catch and drive resulted in Ben Stephenson grabbing a try, Lewis Minikin missed the kick but Ionians were up and running.
Hull battled back and tempers frayed sufficiently to lead to some pushing and shoving, resulting in a loss of a player to both teams. Things quickly settled and play ebbed and flowed but it was the visitors who were able to ride a wave of possession to get to within striking distance again. This time Hull were able to hold up the line- out drive with some dogged defence and when skipper Sanderson peeled off to the blind side an outstanding tackle just pushed him into touch inches short.
Ionians maintained their grip on proceedings and from another driving maul were awarded a penalty try after No.8 Will Hall was penalised for illegal interference. Quarter of the match gone and Ionians had taken the lead.
Ionians then lost Ben Bell to injury and Hull introduced two fresh props for an immediate improvement in their scrummaging. A scrum infringement gave Hull a penalty and a chance to get close to the Ionians line, duly taken. Ally Thomson hit his jumper and on went the drive, Thomson latched onto the back of the maul to be on hand to dot down once the ball was over the line. Humberstone’s conversion took back the lead, 14 – 12, for the home side.
Minutes later Ionians had a chance to go back in front when they were awarded a penalty 30m out but the kick hit the upright and bounced harmlessly away.
Hull were profiting from a temporary superiority in the scrum and a succession of penalties put them into good field position. Another successful catch and drive was held up and Ionians won a scrum. Under pressure Ionians made a hash of clearing the ball, allowing Mike Adlard to run the ball back across field. Ionians drifted with the direction of play only to be caught out when Reece Dean switched play back to the wing with a well-directed kick picking out Adlard who had got back into position to gather the ball on the bounce and stroll over. The missed conversion left the score at 19 – 12 at the break and Hull in the ascendancy.
It really did look like Hull’s day shortly after the re-start. Humberstone was the architect and scorer of the home sides fourth try, which brought a bonus point and the N2N title. Having found touch from a penalty, Humberstone then switched play in field before wrapping round his centres to pop up to take a pass and run in to score. His conversion was the icing on the cake as Hull took a commanding 26 – 12 lead.
Ionians could have wilted but didn’t.
The Ionians back-line was looking increasingly dangerous and more incisive. A clever grubber kick from Josh Britton pushed Hull back into their own half and the chasing Hill put enough pressure on the clearance to keep the ball in play and in Ionians hands. Several incursions from Townend, Mewburn and Makin looked to have stalled until the ball arrived in the hands of Lewis Minikin, 25m from the line. Faced with a phalanx of Hull players magical Minikin mesmerised those around him as he weaved a path to the line. Extraordinary, magnificent. His conversion brought the score back to 26 -19 and breathed new life into the visitors.
Ionians re doubled their efforts and as they mounted another series of attacks Laurence Cowen was forced into deliberately knocking the ball forward to thwart a probable try. He was given 10 minutes on the side-lines to contemplate his actions.
Ionians took immediate advantage of his absence. Ben Smith found touch with the penalty. A clean catch was driven on and though Hull managed to stop the initial drive the maul fractured and the splinter group carried on to the line for Chris Morton to claim the try and a bonus point.
Ionians now had the upper hand, just. In truth there was little between the sides with Ionians having a slight edge in thought and deed. A break down the wing should have brought another try only for the final pass to go astray but it wasn’t long before Ionians did score to take the lead. Protracted pressure on the Hull line finally told with Josh Thundercliffe carrying the ball all of a foot to finish off a barrage of the home line. That score gave Ionians a three point lead with less than five minutes to go.
It simply came down to whether Ionians could deny possession to prevent Hull scoring. They chose to play out the final minutes keeping the ball in the forwards deep in their own half. A high-risk strategy which almost worked.
With less than 60 seconds remaining Ionians conceded a penalty at the break-down. Hull went for the corner and Ionians were unable to defend the line-out. Reece Dean came in on the blind side as the maul rolled in field and Sam Crane passed him the ball to run in unopposed. Cue the celebrations. Congratulations to Hull on their promotion to N1. Enjoy the journey.