Well, what a fine start to the new N2N season, with all of the games being high-scoring affairs with some very narrow victories (or defeats) for all of the sides in the Division.
The largest margin was in the game between Rotherham and newly-promoted Billingham where the Durham side gave their hosts a very torrid first half which ended 35-24 at the break. Rotherham scored 17 unanswered points in the second period to win the game by 52-24. Their three former Hull players Rupert Kay, Laurie Cowen-Leake and Tomasi Tanumi all scored tries in this win.
Hull Ionians travelled to Huddersfield and went into a 20-10 lead at half-time. Huddersfield then hit a purple patch to race into a 32-31 lead. They looked like posting a shock win but very late in the game the Ionians substitute Kobie Fofie scored a converted try for a final score of 39-31.
Lymm v Wharfedale was another nail-biter where the Cheshire side took a half-time lead of 18-15 and as full-time beckoned, after a tense second period, they were still ahead by 21-18. The Dalesmen’s response was typical of their never-say-die approach and resulted in Louis Verity scoring a late try. Fly-half Rupert Davidson held his nerve to land the conversion to give his side a 22-21 victory.
Over on the West coast Fylde and Sheffield Tigers fought out a 26-26 draw after the Tigers had led 19-7 at the break. Fylde came back strongly in the second period to bring the scores level after 70 minutes. With no further scoring and with each side having scored four tries for the bonus point, they both ended the game with three league points each.
Newly-relegated Leeds Tykes opened their first-ever season at Level Four with a 40-35 win at Sheffield, after leading 27-20 at the break. In a game which saw both sides scoring five tries and the lead changing hands on eight occasions it was a pity that such an entertaining game was watched by only 200 spectators.
Tynedale 38 v Preston Grasshoppers 43 was yet another match typical of this amazing opening day in N2N. Tynedale scored six tries to the Hoppers seven but the visitors had the edge in goal-kicking with fly-half Will Hunt landing six cons and 1 penalty goal, while his opposite number Rodgers landed four conversions. The Tynedale hooker Jacob Oliver scored a hat-trick of tries and was rightly declared the Man of the Match.
Finally, our own team posted their first league win in 26 games as the newly-relegated Hull men won a very closely fought game to defeat their hosts Otley at Cross Green by 32-27. Otley are always hard to beat on their own ground and finished a very respectable fifth in the table last season. It is good to be back in N2N and after leading 11-10 at the break Hull found themselves ten points behind after 65 minutes. A converted try by debutant Jack Baldry in the 71st minute followed by a penalty try in the 78th gave Hull the win they wanted badly on their return to N2N. Hull’s other try scorers were Joe Barratt and Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz and Reece Dean landed two conversions and two penalty goals.
For the full match report by Richard Gore visit the club website.
Fixtures for 9th September 2023
Hull RUFC v Hull Ionians
Billingham v Tynedale
Leeds Tykes v Otley
Lymm v Huddersfield
Preston Grasshoppers v Fylde
Sheffield Tigers v Sheffield
Wharfedale v Rotherham
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 