If, and it was a sizable if, there was a worry of an adverse reaction to last weeks last-minute loss to Hull it was categorically dispelled within three minutes of the start of the final match of the season, against Chester.
By then Ionians were fourteen points to the good, after Nathan Hill finished off a break by Jack Townend direct from the kick-off and Lewis Minikin did what seemingly only he can do, as he glided clean through the Chester ranks to score the first of his three tries on the day.
It was a scintillating start from the hosts, but unfortunately a dizzying height that they rarely came near for the remaining 77 minutes. The bright opening encouraged an attempt at exhibition rugby but by and large ambition exceeded ability with Chester, in particular, unable to string any reasonable passages of play together.
The visitors made sure Ionians wouldn’t have it all their own way when Harry Wilkinson capitalised on some slack defending around the ruck to set David Ford away and the veteran No8 was able to outpace our own old stager/ record breaker to go over under the posts.
Neither side were able to conjure up much in the way of decent rugby until Sam Wilson put in kick and chase that allowed him to bundle the Chester full-back into touch and put Ionians in a promising position 10m from the Chester line. Up went Tyler Heelas to provide an inch perfect pass to Kobby Opoku- Fofie who peeled round the front of the line and cut through to score.
Kobby continued to be a thorn in Chester’s side with some excellent work at the breakdown and his turn -over put Ionians into possession for Alan Hudson to show a clean pair of heels to the Chester chasers in a 40m race to the line. Ionians had the bonus point, and a 26 – 7 lead with half an hour gone.
The hosts were in search of a fifth try late on in the half when they coughed up possession and centre Tom Scott bettered Hudson’s effort, running a lung bursting 90m to add Chester’s second score; 26 – 12 at oranges.
The neither shy nor apparently retiring Dave Laverick got onto the scoresheet within minutes of the re-start. There was predictably no sprinting involved with this one, just a well-executed catch and drive with “Lav” burrowing his way over the line.
The game was becoming increasingly tedious only to be jolted back to life with another try from mercurial Minikin, who waltzed his way through half the Chester side before being caught but he was able to stretch out to the line as he was pulled down.
Whilst the hosts gloried in the moment Chester hit back, Sean Callender was able to race through and grab a third try for the visitors. A flurry of activity from the replacement benches brought fresh legs into play, though no particular improvement in the quality, with the exception of the final try of the game.
Charlie Kirk and Jack Townend combined to initiate a break, Kirk smartly drew his man and fed out to Minikin who had the straight forward task of running 50m and rounding winger Jonathan Roberts to claim his hat-trick. The conversion was Minikin’s fifth success from six attempts, oh how he could have done with that accuracy last week!
Chester tried manfully to gain a fourth try and a bonus point but it was never going to happen and the game limped along to it’s conclusion and the end of what has been an entertaining (not withstanding this particular performance) and by most parameters a very successful season.
Before I go, I would like to make mention of a couple of players who, though they may well not be rewarded at the Presentation Evening, have been outstanding this season. Take a bow Ben Stephenson and Josh Britton. Both these lads have set themselves high standards this year and have been models of consistency. Others shine often on the back of these lads’ efforts. Well done.