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September 19th 2009 - Hull Ionians Hawks 27 Ilkley A 13       Photos

Team: Potts, Hutchinson, Maxton, Moorhouse, Briggs, Barrass, Richards, Walkes, Hall, Quigley, Beech, Nuttall, MacGill, Young, Liddle.

Here’s your starter for 10. How many players have played in all 3 Hawks matches so far this season? – A. 2 Kyle Hall and Andy Barrass.
Your bonus questions – How many Hull University students represented Ionians? (10), What happened to last weeks luckless Academy players? (Surprisingly they were needed to play for the Academy), Why, this early on in the season, and with so many registered/contracted players at the club, are the Hawks having to draft in so many youngsters? Answers to this one on a post card! – Too many are injured at present.
Anyway, to the match. Ilkley were unable to field a front row so the game was played throughout with uncontested scrums, much to the chagrin of Ionians Steve Quigley who was hoping to celebrate his Birthday by tucking his opposite number’s head up his a***, never mind Steve there’s always next week!
Both sides started with the intention to play fast, attacking Rugby and helped by the unseasonably warm weather produced some entertaining stuff. Only poor handling and last ditch tackling on both sides prevented a cricket score. The Hawks were the first to score, James Liddle showing pace and power to run under the posts for an easy conversion for John Potts. Winger Joe Briggs extended the lead with another display of power, barging past two defenders to score in the corner. Ilkley responded almost immediately, scoring 2 penalties as Ionians discipline faltered. A converted try followed for Ilkley to take a one point half time lead 12- 13.
The second half continued in a similar vein to the first. Both sides showed plenty of enterprise and a willingness to attack at every opportunity. The Hawks had the edge in the loose and were able to win more of the second phase, due in no small way to the efforts of the stand out player James Liddle. He demonstrated his ball winning abilities on numerous occasions, not always with the approval of the referee! He did however gain the approval of his teammates and the spectators when he raced 40 metres to score his second try. The backline was functioning smoothly now. Scrum- half Ceri Richards linked well with the pack and provided plenty of good ball down the line. Skipper Rich Moorhouse marshalled his troops commendably and led by example with some powerful tackling. John Potts added a penalty to the total before Andy Barrass latched on to a loose ball on half way to sprint clear and score. Ilkley never gave in and continued to play their part in an entertaining game through to the final whistle.
A big thanks to the” Uni” lads. They should enjoy a successful season on this showing. Chris Young, Ceri Richards and Joe Briggs caught the eye on this occasion. The second row pairing of Eddie Beach and Joe Nuttall were competitive in the line and in the loose and Steve Quigley showed there is more to his game than scrummaging.
After this University Challenge Manager Dave Wilson will be hoping that there is a return to fitness of some senior players for the visit to Morley next week.