27th October 2007 - Morley Cavaliers 14   Hull Ionians Hawks 10 -  Yorkshire Premier League

Despite being able to field a strong team with a flood of players back from injury, the Hawks knew they would face a stern test against top of the table and unbeaten Morley.  Ionians were particularly strong in the backs where Karl Birch had his first game of the season at stand off.  Also strengthening the back line were first team squad players Tim Nixon, Andy Rennison and Danny Ulliot.  With skipper Tom Boyle leading the side from scrum half the Hawks decided to utilise the services of kiwi scrum half Charlie Bargh in the back row.  This proved to be an inspired decision as he tackled anything that moved in a man of the match performance. It was also great to see prop Adi Longbone back amongst the fray.

The Hawks weathered the expected early storm with strong defence that at times left the Morley Team (who have scored over 70 points in a game twice this season) running out of ideas. The Hawks then began to counter with the backs making several clean breaks, from one such break Danny Waddy burst through and looked as though he would score but was held up on the line. The Hawks were not to be denied though and after kicking a penalty to the corner a good catch and drive was touched down by Angelo Irving for a try that was well converted by Rob Owen.

The score galvanised Morley and at last they responded with their own catch and drive to score a dubious try (the Morley player admitted afterwards he didn’t get the ball down) which was converted from the touch line. The Hawks lifted their game again and were rewarded when Rob Owen span out of two tackles on a run to the line, and when Morley infringed he was able to kick the penalty.

The Morley Coaching Team obviously decided that to carry on playing an open game was playing into the Ionians hands, so virtually the entire second half the Morley Team relied on driving mauls as their only form of attack. Anytime they did try to attack off the fringes they were met with solid defence with especially Angelo Irving throwing the opposition around like rag dolls.

There was only one score in the second half when Morley eventually managed to just get yet another of their mauls over the line. The Hawks did have their chances but when they had on a couple of occasions line outs near the Morley line they failed to secure possession. Eventually the clock beat the Hawks and Morley were mightily relieved to hear the ref call the last play and immediately kicked the ball backwards off the pitch.  The Morley Coach was very complimentary afterwards and admitted that Ionians had played all the rugby and deserved to win.

The Hawks now have two successive home league games against Huddersfield and Beverley and if they can keep a team of this strength they will be in with a good chance of climbing up the league.