20th October  2007 - Rugby Lions  32   Hull Ionians  24  - National 3 North     pictures

Hull Ionians ran into a revitalized Rugby Lions team whose backs had at just come back to form and with some superb flowing rugby at pace ran in four tries, a couple of them candidates for try of the season. Hull Ionians stuck to their task for the full 80 minutes and closed the game applying all the pressure and went tantalizing close to gaining the all important 4th bonus point try, which would have brought a loosing bonus point too.

Rugby Lions backs cut loose from the start and a missed tackle allowed them to reach the line where a penalty by James Hawken gave them 3 points. Then on 10 minutes after a midfield line-out, left wing Ade Hales celebrated his return to the team by joining the back line between the centres and racing through the gap to go under the posts, Hawken converting.  Hull Ionians now started to gain some good possession and when they were illegally stopped at the line James Ferguson kicked the goal. Then on 20 minutes  a stolen scrum saw Chris Fores drive in then release quick ball. Travis Plumridge crashed through several tackles then stretched out to touch the post with the ball thus scoring the try, James Ferguson converting to level the scores.

Rugby Lions forwards had the next say with a catch and drive from a line-out on the 22 which they took all the way for scrum half Sam Viggers to touch down. Then once again from a line-out on half way right wing Dom Wareing raced away with Ade Hales in support to score the try, Hawken converting for a 22-10 lead at the break.

A yellow card reduced Hull Ionians to 14 men for a spell after the break but solid defence kept the Lions out until the 10th minute when a penalty for coming in the side gifted Hawken 3 points. On the hour Hull Ionians forwards and backs all combined to hammer away at the Lions line and finally Mick Watson stretched over the top to score the try and James Ferguson kicked the goal. 5 minutes later Lions scored the try of the season when they counter attacked from a raking deep kick that put them back in their 22. James Hawken started the run and then superb close passing at pace through half the team ended with flanker Alex Nash running under the posts for Hawken to add the easy goal. Hull Ionians dominated the final 15 minutes and repeatedly attacked the Lions line, who only relieved the pressure with good clearance kicks, only to be under siege again. Collapsing a rolling maul at the line produced a yellow card then illegally spoiling the next catch and drive brought a penalty try, converted by James Ferguson. Hull Ionians came back again in injury time with Mick Watson cutting back inside off the wing and only a slip as he turned denied him the bonus points try and Lions once again cleared their line to end the match.