8th September  2007 - Hull Ionians  26 Darlington Mowden Park 19   - National 3 North     pictures

Hull Ionians dominated possession for most of the match and deservedly built up a 23-7 lead, then wobbled slightly when Mowden Park scored twice in 8 minutes after an hours play, before they reasserted command to close out the match threatening to score again.

Hull Ionians applied the early pressure but two long range penalty attempts drifted either side of the posts and Sean Hannah was just bundled into touch at the corner after linking with Garry Stephenson. Then Park made their first attack after 11 minutes play and scored - a taste of things to come an hour later. A penalty gave them an attacking line-out 30 metres out and a half break by Jon Benson saw fullback Tom Wilkinson coming through at pace to score untouched, Benson adding the goal. Hull Ionians came straight back on the attack and when Park once again killed the ball James Ferguson struck the goal. A strong run from Greg Bone took play upfield again, Park stopped the recycle by deliberate offside and this time the attacking line-out option was taken. Park initially held out but then from a 5 metre scrum Danny Hague crashed over for the try, James Ferguson adding the goal.

On 28 minutes the referees frustration at Park's repeated infringements saw yellow, no 8 Jason Smithson off for hands in the ruck again, but then a Park attack was ruled to be illegally stopped and Hull Ionians caught yellow fever with Paul Spivey then Carl Mortimer taking a rest, but Park could not finish the attack. Hull Ionians came back on the attack again despite being 13 against 15 and blatant obstruction that killed a promising attack earned another well struck penalty for James Ferguson.

The break saw the back line reorganized with Greg Bone injured and Ryan Girking making his debut on the wing. Hull Ionians went straight into the attack and with a penalty bringing an attacking line-out, a good throw to Paul Spivey ended with Richard Wigham driven in for the try, James Ferguson converting then adding a penalty for offside 5 minutes later. Park then hit a purple patch of gaining some good midfield ball and were given far to much space to run. This allowed scrum half Andrew Foreman to curl in from half way off the back of a scrum, then a line out drive was moved wide for Tom Wilkinson to waltz in again, Jon Benson adding the first of the two touch line conversions. At 23-19 it looked game on and a nervous period for the home crowd, but Hull Ionians sorted themselves out and slowly reasserted control. Two tries went begging with scoring passes dropped, 10 minutes of intense pressure should have brought a couple of tries, but finally brought a calming penalty from James Ferguson. Straight from the kick-off Hull Ionians drove Park straight back to their own 22 where play stayed for most of the rest of the game. Park had one chance of a break, but a flying tackle by Sean Hannah smashed down a potential overlap situation spinning the ball loose and Hull Ionians were back in control again. They closed out the match once again on the line, Park's cause not helped by another yellow card, this time for reckless use of the boot by their replacement prop.