Hull Ionians Hawks 19 Wharfedale Foresters 29

The Hawks difficult start to the season continued with the visit of last years league champions, Wharfedale, who are unbeaten so far this season. The visitors showed there ability as they retained possession for the first five minutes. With their first touch of the ball, the Hawks handled crisply to put debutant winger Mark McDaid into space, he outstripped the cover and chipped over the fullback to touch down for a brilliant try. The only problem was the referee must have been unsighted and disallowed the try, as he suspected there was a knock on.
The Hawks then began to exert pressure on Wharfedale who (as happened all afternoon) were prepared to concede penalties rather than let the Hawks get quick ball to their talented backs. Stand off John Potts took advantage of two Wharfedale indiscretions to give Ionians a 6 – 0 lead. Wharfedale replied with pressure of their own culminating in their scrumhalf ducking under tackles to score near the posts. After this the Hawks took control again but persistent slowing of the ball prevented them from scoring. Against the run of play Wharfedale scored with an interception try from deep in their own half to give them a 12 – 6 lead at the break.
The second half continued in the same vein and John Potts punished the visitor’s cynical play with two more penalties. Wharfedale’s forward orientated game paid off for them when they kicked to the corner and scored from a catch and drive, which was well converted from the touch line. A frustrated Hawks team hurled themselves at the Wharfedale defence with Danny Zgoda playing a captains game, making yardage on the many times he carried the ball. Their efforts looked to be paying off when they worked a four on two overlap and looked as though they must score. The Wharfedale winger took a gamble and stepped in to intercept a pass and race the full length of the pitch to score.
With fifteen minutes left the Hawks lifted their efforts even further, and battered the Wharfedale line. At long, long last the yellow card was shown to the Wharfedale number eight for killing the ball. From the tap penalty, several forward drives took the ball near enough for second row, Martin Carew, to go over near the posts, with John Potts adding the conversion to bring the Hawks within one score. Try as they might, the Hawks could not pierce the resolute Wharfedale defence again, the only further score being a Wharfedale penalty to take the game beyond reach.
The final whistle left the Hawks players wondering how they had managed to lose after playing so well. There were many contenders for man of the match, especially in the backs, where both centres Ryan Girking and Rob Whittam (another debutant) handled and ran very well. Winger, Danny Bates, put in his usual big hits, with one tackle in particular leaving the crowd wincing and fearing for the health of the opposition player. In the end though, it was felt that the award had to go to one of the back row. Since it was almost impossible to split the efforts of James Liddle, Rich MacKay and Danny Zgoda, the joint award went to all three of them.