Hull Ionians 16 - Westoe 30
Mar
This was far from a classic Westoe performance, but as a test of character they turned up trumps.
Midway through the second half Gareth Nesbit’s men were being battered by opponents who had suddenly got their game together.
And when a yellow car reduced them to 14 men it looked as though they might capitulate as Ionians swarmed inside their 22.
Two try-saving tackles held them at bay but it was with a sense of inevitability that a penalty and unconverted touch down restored the hosts’ early lead.
The Shieldsmen, third top of National 2 North and with promotion very much on their minds, hung on grimly and, once back to full strength, the tide turned.
First, a penalty by fly half Mark Bedworth - whose faultless set piece kicking brought half his side’s points - levelled the scores at 16-16 with quarter-of-an-hour remaining.
Then came a change of tactics. Westoe’s open play had overall lacked cohesion while their forwards, with the front row in intimidating form, had had the better of things against big and strong opponents.
Now they played a fierce scrummaging and driving game taking the option when the opportunity arose, as it did quite often, of a scrum rather than a kick into touch after a Hull foul.
And it was the hosts’ turn to defend desperately, conceding a penalty try in the 78th minute before Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe sealed victory when in extra time flanker Joe Maw was driven over.
Certainly, Ionians will rue not making more of their period of total dominance but the Shieldsmen deserve plenty of credit for their sheer grit.
And they were twice thwarted when they went over only for it to be judged that the ball was held up - much to the bewilderment of would-be scorers Maw and replacement full back Scott Jordan.
Director of rugby Andy Howells said afterwards: “We really scrapped it out with a fighting spirit that was good to see.
“The way we hit back is something we can take forward with us. It may not have been pretty, but if ugly rugby gets us a win away from home against a good team then we will settle for it.”
Ionians took an early lead through a penalty by fly half James Ferguson and a try by centre Oliver Marns who scythed his way 30m through an unusually abject defence.
On the half-hour a nimble-footed liaison of James Clark and Tommy Banks ended with centre David Haswell going over. Bedworth converted and in the last play of an undistinguished first half he kicked a penalty to put his team 10-8 ahead.
He increased it by three points with a drop goal in the 50th minute and then began the sequence of play described previously.
With victories by clear leaders Fylde as well as by Leicester Lions and Loughborough Students, striving like Westoe for the play-off runners-up spot, nothing changed at the top of the table.
*The Seconds came away with a 29-17 win in a friendly match at Hartlepool Rovers, tries being scored by flanker Hayden Richards, centre Richard Burrows (two each) and winger John Irving with fly half Chris Hitchcock kicking two conversions.
*For the second successive Saturday and the fifth time this season the Thirds were left kicking their heels in frustration because Durham Junior League opponents - in this instance Durham City - called the game off.
*There was disappointment for the Colts, also, when their Durham County Under-18 Cup semi-final at Consett was postponed at the behest of the hosts.
