Week 2 League Round-Up

Last weekend saw four Yorkshire County derby matches among the seven scheduled fixtures for the day, three of which resulted in away wins.

Hull RUFC entertained close rivals Hull Ionians and despite scoring after two minutes some slack discipline allowed Ionians have the better of the first half exchanges as they built up  20-5 half-time lead with two converted tries plus two penalty goals which gave Hull a lot to make up for in the second period. They hit back very well with two converted tries of their own along with a penalty goal to bring the score to 23-22. Hull Ionians then scored another converted try to lead 30-20 but in the final minute Hull secured a losing bonus point with a successful penalty goal. Three tries apiece but the visitors had the man of the match in fly-half Lewis Minikin who contributed 20 points for his side after a very entertaining game.

Leeds Tykes posted their second victory so far with a good 31-18 home win over Otley after leading 14-10 at the break. The Tykes scored four tries all of which were converted by fly-half Seremaia Turagabeci who also landed four penalty goals for a personal tally of twenty points.

Sheffield Tigers welcomed Sheffield RUFC in the Steel City derby at their Dore Moor ground and at half-time found themselves trailing by 19-11 as their visitors ran in three tries, two of which were converted. The honours were even in the second half with two tries each before Sheffield ran out winners by 32-28 after a hard-fought contest.

Wharfedale are usually a hard nut to crack on their own ground and they gave the highly-fancied Rotherham Titans a shock as they went in at the break with a 14-3 lead. The Titans hit back with three second half tries helped by man of the match Lloyd Hayes whose two conversions and five penalties gave him a nineteen point haul in the eventual 34-19 victory.

Elsewhere in the Division newly-promoted Billingham gained their first win at the new level when they posted a very close 20-17 home win over Tynedale. The scores were even at the break on 12-12 and on the 55^th minute it was 17-17, with three tries to each side. Scrum-half Sam Heron put Billingham ahead in the 75^th minute with a penalty goal and in the final minute Tyne had a penalty awarded but fly-half Jake Rodgers failed to convert.

1800 spectators witnessed a high-scoring game in the West Lancashire derby at Lightfoot Green where visitors Fylde posted a solid 41-27 win over Preston Grasshoppers. Although Hoppers scored in the first two minutes they could only score two more in the game whilst Fylde had the try bonus point by half-time and added two more in the  second half. All six were converted by fly-half Smith, who also landed two penalty goals.

Finally, in a high-scoring match at Lymm, visitors Huddersfield won by 48-41 after leading 31-21 at the break. Both sides scored six tries in this thrilling match. The game had a dramatic ending in the final minute, with the score at 41-41 Huddersfield were awarded a penalty. They kicked for the corner and from the resultant line-out went over for a push-over try which was also converted. The game had been a fine spectacle for the 310 spectators who watched it.

After only two games played there are only Rotherham Titans and Leeds Tykes with 100% records, with the Titans in pole position. In the nether regions Sheffield Tigers, Lymm, Tynedale and Otley have yet to win a game.

Next week’s fixtures
Rotherham Titans v Lymm
Fylde v Billingham
Huddersfield v Hull RUFC
Hull Ionians v Leeds Tykes
Otley v Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield v Preston Grasshoppers
Tynedale v Wharfedale.

Ferensian.