15th March 2008 -  Tynedale 21 Hull Ionians 20 - National 3 North        pictures      N3N Review

Hull Ionians played some of their best rugby against the league champions turning what many had expected to be a home walkover into a very close entertaining match in which the champions were nervously seeking victory. Hull Ionians constructed far more attacking positions than their hosts but did not have the man of the match with agile running skills of home fullback Jack Smales who scored two of their tries and created the third.   
Tynedale’s nerves creaked at the kick-off that failed to travel 10 metres despite the tail wind and Hull Ionians ran straight at them from the resulting scrum, Travis Plumridge made the break that sent Joe Donkin racing down the wing to be stopped just 5 metres out. Wave attacks continued and after 9 minutes pressure James Ferguson struck the inevitable penalty to take the lead. Hull Ionians ran the kick-off straight back ending with Joe Donkin once again tackled just short. Recycled ball saw Karl Birch chip perfectly to the corner where Gary Stephenson neatly barged his marker aside to dive in for the try which all watching cheered, only for the touch judge to let Tynedale off the hook, ruling he had been beaten to the ball.
Tynedale used the wind to relieve the siege and forced a 22 drop out. Hull Ionians kicked deep but allowed too much space for winger Ben Duncan to make ground and send Jack Smales under the posts, Phil Belgian converting. Four minutes later Tynedale attacked for the second time only and this time a reversal of roles saw Jack Smales send Ben Duncan under the posts, Phil Belgian again converting.
Hull Ionians won the ball straight from the restart and put Tynedale under further pressure to go offside again but James Ferguson’s kick into the wind bounced back off the posts and the follow up knocked it on with the line beckoning! Wave attacks continued with Travis Plumridge stopped a metre short. When Tynedale finally kicked to clear James Ferguson kicked it back and followed up well to make the tackle and force a penalty for not releasing which he calmly kicked for 3 points. Hull Ionians again ran well at Tynedale but Travis Plumridge was tackled just short with Joe Donkin unable to support him to take the pass. Tynedale closed the half with a sustained attack on the line and finally put right wing Mark Laycock over in the corner, but strong tackles held him up denying them the try at the break.
Hull Ionians opened the second half like the first and wave after wave of attack finally stretched the defence for Danny Hague to go under the posts, James Ferguson converting to trail just 14-13. The game flowed from end to end until the last 15 minutes with Tynedale looking edgy but finally Hull Ionians cracked at a quick penalty, Chris Starling yellow carded for tackling too soon. Tyne kicked to the corner but were pushed back by the determined few. Then a deep clearance kick again found Jack Smales who showed his class to break tackles and race to the posts, Phil Belgian again converting to at last make the hosts smile. But Hull Ionians came straight back at them and 14 men created good ball for Joe Donkin to jink through and score, James Ferguson converting from wide out to make it a one point game. Back to full strength it was game on but Tynedale did just enough to hold out for victory, but it was their closest home win this season.