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The Challenges of Modern Day Rugby.     Report   Photo   MM Photo

Dear members, supporters, visitors and guests. I would like to welcome you all today for the Yorkshire derby between Hull Ionians and Huddersfield. Here are two teams with mixed fortunes so far on the pitch. Huddersfield have started the campaign well and currently sit third in the league whilst Hull Ionians, despite some spirited performances so far, are at the wrong end of the table. Therefore on the pitch Huddersfield are challenged with maintaining their excellent start and Hull Ionians are charged will digging in a little deeper and moving up the table. There is a confidence at the club that the coaching staff and current squad have all the capabilities to fulfil this aim.
Two very different situations on the field. However one common challenge which faces all clubs in the modern era of rugby union is the raising of revenue. We at Hull Ionians are not immune to this and we constantly strive to raise funds in order to maintain our National League status. We are constantly grateful to sponsors and members who support the club and our social events. Despite this generous support we can never become complacent and our marketing team are forever seeking new revenue streams.
To this end we are in the process of organising a Christmas Grand Raffle. The initiative will be launched within the next week or so and we hope that members, supporters and friends from all sections of the club will support our latest initiative.
I sincerely hope that you enjoy your day and our challenge to rise up the league materialises.

Trevor Stephenson - Chairman Hull Ionians RUFC

 Match Officials
Our referee today is Rob Sheard whom we last met at Harrogate and Fylde last season and was last here when we played Harrogate in December 2007. Rob has travelled here from Heysham in Lancashire, an area he has lived in most of his life, He has worked as an industrial chemist for 15 years, but is now a teacher. Rob played rugby at Vale of Lune until 1992 when he decided to try refereeing. He was accepted on to the Panel of National Referees in 2000, but was forced to take a lengthy break from refereeing due to a hip condition. During this time he coached Referees on the Northern Group, and within Society. He rejoined in 2005.
Our touch judges today are Mark Elliott and Nick Robinson. Mark travels from Loughborough and was last here two years ago, including with Rob Sheard when we played Harrogate, while Nick is on his first visit having travelled up from Surrey.

 Club History
As we celebrate our 20^th Anniversary with a Dinner next week, for which places may still be booked, another chance to look back through old programmes. An interesting one I have found is a match free from Cup and league pressures against Wakefield in April 1992, both teams have players in them that are still involved in rugby. Hull Ionians: Rich Iveson, Andy Clipson, Jim Iveson (3P,C), Andy Jenkinson, Dave Wall (T), Russell Day (DG), Darron McIntyre, Karl Wigglesworth, Mike Pearson, Tony Rice, Mark Bennett, Bill Squires, Troy Morgan, Dick Thompson, Paul Hunt, Pete Delaney. Wakefield: Rob Liley (4P), Mike Harrison(T), Phil Maynard, Bryan Barley, Jon Sleightholme, Steve Townend, Neil Gemmell, Roger Burman, Terry Garnett, Rod Latham, Paul Wood, Paul Stewart, Neil Hargreaves, Jon Griffiths, Rich Bramley (T), Steve Hough, David Hepworth. Wakefield won 18-20.

Player Profile – Oli Marns
Name: Oliver Marns
Nick Name: Oli
Born: 10/10 1978; Halifax
Family status: Married to Kate
Position: Centre/Wing
Build: 5’ 10”; 13st 5lb
Rugby Career:  GB Academy; Halifax RLFC; Leigh RLFC; Halifax RUFC
Occupation: Solicitor
Other Sports: Football; Triathlon
Hobbies: Drinking, Watching Halifax RLFC
Person who has most influenced your rugby: Step Dad – Rick
Favourite Food: Any Seafood
Favourite Drink: Sambulca, Polish Vodka
Favourite Actor: Ben Stiller

Favourite Actress: Angelina Jolie

Favourite Film/play:

Usual Suspects/Zoolander

Most Memorable Sporting Moment: Super League debut for Halifax RLFC winning Challenge Cup in 87.

Match report

September was not a good month. A good opening performance at Preston was spoilt by surrendering the match in injury time and since then we were going downhill. Last week was a must win game at Waterloo where our defence was excellent and we at least turned the corner. With the wind in the first half we created enough positions to score try bonus points, but inexperience together and poor handling in the gale proved our downfall in a match where at least one player felt we should have scored over 30 points. It was against the run of play when a dropped pass and hack through conceded a break away try for Waterloo to win in the final minutes.