Luctonians 20 v 21 Hull Ionians
Luctonians RFC v Hull Ionians RUFC
Saturday 9th April 2022
Mortimer Park
Match Reporter: Geoff Vickress
An entertaining encounter between two evenly matched sides went in the favour of the away side Hull Ionians by one point when a last minute kick from Tom Jones of Luctonians, from halfway, fell just short of the posts.
The purists would have been intrigued with this match up as both teams were excellent in defence and the back lines struggled to gain any clear breaks which were few and far between. But the workload and effort from both sets of forwards gave the large crowd a real chess match of a fixture.
Lewis Minikin kicked the away side in front after 26 minutes from a penalty, with Tom Jones restoring parity 4 minutes later also from the tee. When Ben Stephenson was driven over Ionians on 32mins, Minikin again successful with the conversion they looked good value for their lead. But Ionians were adjudged offside from the restart and Lucs took full advantage with a deep kick to touch from Tom Jones and from the resulting line out drive the excellent blindside Sam Jones scrambled over, Jones converting to send the sides in 10 each at half time.
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 10 v 10 Hull Ionians RUFC
Ionians came out full of endeavour after oranges, and their scrum was starting to pay dividends as Lucs were punished for infringements in the eight. Minikin was again accurate from the tee to restore the away side’s advantage from one penalty after 51 minutes. But the game was level again only 4 minutes later when Tom Jones again replied from a penalty in front of the posts following for a 13-13 score line.
The excellent Sam Pocklington at 9 for Ionians set up wing Nathan Hill who steamed through the back line at speed to dot down to put the away side in front just before the hour. Minikin missed the conversion, but he struck what turned out to be the decisive penalty and 3 points only minutes later when Lucs were again penalised at the scrum on 66 minutes.
Both sides continued to stand and battle toe to toe and Lucs reduced the deficit on 72 minutes when Aiden Cheshire was driven over on his 100th Lucs first team appearance with Tom Jones converting to pull the scores back to 20-21.
Chances for either side were at a premium and Lucs, when awarded the penalty at the death, took the option of the kick from on the half way line. But the wind which had favoured them in the second half failed to provide the extra gust required to clear the cross bar.
Ionians will be well pleased with the points, but Lucs won’t be too downcast as they once again belied their squad depth and experience, naming Tom Black on debut in their second row who has come up through their junior ranks, and two others on the bench with little experience at National league level, and were at the end unfortunate not to pinch the result.
Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 20 v 21 Hull Ionians RUFC
Luctonians Scorers
Tries: Sam Jones (36); Aiden Cheshire (69)
Convs: Tom Jones (37, 70)
Pens: Tom Jones (30,53)
Hull Ionians Park Scorers
Tries: Ben Stephenson (32); Nathan Hill (55)
Conv: Lewis Minikin (33)
Pens: Lewis Minikin (26, 51, 63)
Star Man
Sam Pocklington
(Hull Ionians – Scrum Half)
Luctonians Man of the Match
Sam Jones
(Blindside Flanker)
Luctonians
Rob Bengry; James Wheeler; Josh Watkins; Ben Owen; Charlie Grimes; Tom Jones; Josh Nott : Connor Deignan; Ben Link; Joe White ©; Owien Harriott-Davis; Tom Black; Sam Jones; Seb Robinson; Aiden Cheshire
Replacements: Brad Smith; Luke Corbett; Jack Prescott; Owen Randell; Rob Aikman
Hull Ionians
Cameron Burnhill; Sam Wilson; Lewis Minikin; Josh Britton; Nathan Hill; Ben Smith; Sam Pocklington : Chris Morton; Ben Stephenson; Josh Thundercliffe; Joseph Makin; Alex Campbell; Tyler Heelas ; James Sanderson ©; George Mewburn
Replacements: Benjamin Bell; Allan Hudson; Kobby Opoku-Fofie; Jack Townend; Charlie Kirk
The post Luctonians 20 v 21 Hull Ionians appeared first on Luctonians Sports Club.