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Hull Ionians 30 Huddersfield 13 - National 2 North Photos MM Photos Programme
A master
class performance from Hull Ionians front row steam rolled the way for victory
as Hull Ionians showed their intent to climb up the table. Every scrum rolled
forwards, frequently driving Huddersfield off it if it was theirs, or setting up
powerful runs from no 8 Danny Hague to set up good second phase ball. The front
row of Scott Wilson, Chris Starling and Captain Carl Mortimer were leading by
example and everyone else picked up the challenge playing their best rugby so
far this season with the promise of even better to come. Behind them half backs
Jo Bartlett and James Ferguson could call their options, only Field’s ability to
slow the ball down and repeated offside, which earned them a yellow card on 34
minutes, stopped even more points.
Only from their own line-out did Field get any decent ball but a solid defence
knocked them backwards out wide too with every player of the highly motivated
team delivering thumping tackles when required.
Hull Ionians played most of the match in the attacking half but the early
exchanges were penalties, two for James Ferguson and two for Chris Johnson in
reply on the two occasions they crossed the half way line. Pressure finally
gained reward with superb interplay between James Ferguson and James Greene
creating a half chance for Luke Thundercliffe to jink silkily between the posts
.
The next attack saw Oli Marns just held up at the line after a good run from
Danny Smith, but Marns made no mistake scoring on the opposite wing
after good
second phase from the resulting 5 metre scrum. James Ferguson added both
conversions.
Hull Ionians maintained the pace and power after the break and James Ferguson
soon struck a penalty awarded after throwing the ball wide with Field offside had just
seen the scoring pass knocked on. Hull Ionians forwards then drove for the line
from the 22 only for Danny Hague to be unable to turn and ground the ball as he
crossed the line. This led to 3 consecutive 5 metre scrums, two stopped by
breaking up with the third seeing the ball despairingly kicked away by the Field
scrum half to concede a penalty try converted by James Ferguson. Huddersfield gained
consolation with a counter attack completed by Matt Clarke, converted by
Johnson, but only time denied the bonus point try with Hull Ionians in the 22
again.