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14 November 2009 - Hull Ionians 21 Macclesfield 22 - National 2 North Photos MM Photos Programme
Hull Ionians played some superb rugby
with both their backs and forwards moving the ball well in attack and tackling
heroically in defence when on the back foot. Macclesfield as joint league
leaders came expecting an easy win and knew they had been in one of their
toughest matches and had stolen victory in extended injury time, denying their
hosts a richly deserved victory. Hull Ionians took the lead after 37 minutes and
through tremendous work rate were just denied an early bonus point try by the
pack and then a superb defence held on under tremendous pressure until the 5th
minute of injury time when an offside decision gave Ross Winney a 45-metre
penalty, which he held his nerve to kick to steal the match.
Macclesfield made a good start to the match playing with controlled possession
into the diagonal gale and set up centre Tony Howcroft to break and run under
the posts, Winney converting. Hull Ionians man of the match James Ferguson used
the wind well to apply pressure and a penalty chance went wide, then lost ball
in the attacking 22 saw a Macc overlap send Josh Fowles away for a 70 metre try
against the run of play. Hull Ionians came straight back with Oli Marns twice
making raking runs then Gary Stephenson taking the ball on to force a penalty to
gain an attacking line-out. Joe Makin took the ball cleanly and the forward
drive rolled the visitors pack back for Danny Hague to score in the corner,
James Ferguson adding the touch line conversion. Macclesfield had their chances
but could not break through then to close the half Hull Ionians crossed twice.
James Ferguson made a half break continued by Luke Thundercliffe to take play to
the line then after the forwards were just held moving the ball wide saw Danny
Hague crash through the centre to score. Hull Ionians came straight back again
with Oli Marns and Luke Thundercliffe combining to take play to the line and
good recycling of the ball sucked in the cover then spinning it wide saw Joe
Wright send Rob Whittam clear on the overlap to score, James Ferguson converting
both.
Macclesfield made a strong start to the second half with flanker Evan Stewart
crossing from a 5 metre scrum, Winney converting to leave Hull Ionians still
just in front at 21-19. Hull Ionians came straight back at them with superb team
work and had three close range but wide out penalties taken as lines-out which
Macc just held out, gaining a yellow card in the process. The pack all but drove
Danny Hague in to score his hat-trick, the defence just holding him inches above
the line to deny him. The next move saw Oli Marns diving into the corner but
just tackled into the corner flag, conceding a line-out under the new laws to
keep the pressure on. It was then Macclesfield’s turn to kick up field to lay
siege to the line but a brilliant defence with James Rule to the fore held them
out then stole the ball to finally drive them back. Then from a midfield ruck
Oli Marns raced up to intercept the clearing pass that would have given him a
certain bonus point try only to be ruled offside for Winney to steal the match
with his 45 metre goal.