National 2 North Weekly Round-Up

Last weekend, there were three County derby games played, resulting in three convincing home wins for Leeds Tykes, Rotherham Titans and Sheffield Tigers. There were also two Red and White Rose inter-county clashes.

Hull RUFC opened brightly against Leeds with an early penalty goal from Reece Dean opening the scoring, but most of the first half pressure came from the Tykes who ran in three tries and one conversion. Dean added another penalty before the break for a half-time score of 17-6. Hull had battled gamely and continued to do so throughout the game, but the home side were showing fine form to add another four tries to their account in the second period, plus two conversions. Hooker Mike Jobling scored Hull’s only try in the second half, leaving the Tykes worthy winners at 41-11. The Leeds back-rower Lucas Walsh was declared Man-of-the Match and their winger Harry Jukes posted a second-half hat-trick.

Rotherham Titans entertained Huddersfield and proved to be far too strong for the Lockwood Park men, running out winners by 43-15 and turning round at 24-8.The Titans scored six tries, five of which were converted, with former Hull players Loma Kivalu and Zak Poole both touching down. The Titans lock Matt Challinor took the Man-of-the Match award. Huddersfield never gave up the battle but have now conceded 172 points in four games, with just one win to their credit.

I think that most will agree that the biggest shock result of the day came when Sheffield Tigers defeated Hull Ionians at Dore Moor by 49-5. They led 23-5 at the break and took the second period by 26-0. Veteran fly-half Mark Ireland landed five conversions and four penalties for a personal tally of 22 points, after giving an imperious display of place kicking which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award. Be careful next Saturday Hull RUFC!!

Newly promoted Billingham are showing that they will be no pushover at the higher level when they posted an 18-14 victory over visitors Sheffield RUFC. The have now won two of their four games and are showing that they have determination and grit in the way they go about their business. Sheffield are in a similar vein of playing so far and they led 7-6 at the break but after Billingham took a 2 point lead after 70 minutes they had to battle to hold on for the final ten minutes. Man-of-the-Match went to the Billingham winger Joe Ross who scored their only, but very important, try.

Lymm posted their first win of the season over visitors Tynedale, who now remain the only side without a victory so far. In a high-scoring and entertaining game Lymm led 19-7 at the break and went on to win by 33-26. Both sides scored four tries  but Tyne will regret their indiscipline allowing Lymm fly-half Thomas Shard to land three second half penalty goals. However, they did pick up both bonus points for their efforts. Man-of-the-Match was the Lymm scrum-half Cal Morris.

Another side to record their first win of the season was Otley and they did it in fine style with a 41-26 away win at Lightfoot Green over Preston Grasshoppers in a War of the Roses clash where Hoppers led 12-3 at the break. Once again, both sides scored four tries but it was Otley who had the upper hand in the second period with winger Sam Taylor leading the charge with a hat-trick of tries, earning himself the Man-of-the-Match award. Hoppers got some small reward with a try bonus point.

Last, but by no means least, was the second Roses derby clash between Wharfedale and Fylde at the Wharfe’s Avenue ground, where a tense and exciting game saw the Dalesmen leading 17-14 at the break. The second period was similar in style and with three minutes to play the visitors were ahead by 26-24, but in the final minute they were penalised and the Wharfe full-back Ryan Hodgson kept his calm to kick the goal. The biggest league crowd of the day (483) had witnessed a very keen and close nail-biting game and Fylde went home with both bonus points. The Man-of-the-Match was Wharfe’s fly-half Sam Gaude who scored a try and kicked three conversions and a penalty.

There was no change at the top of the table with Leeds (20), Rotherham (19) and Fylde (15) leading the way. In the nether regions the bottom three are Preston, Huddersfield and Tynedale who are all on six points.

Ferensian.

The Ferensian’s Unofficial National 2 Yorkshire Table:

	P	W	D	L	F	A	TB	LB	Pts
Leeds Tykes	4	4	0	0	161	93	4	0	20
Sheffield Tigers	3	2	0	1	108	61	2	0	12
Hull RUFC	3	2	0	1	106	69	2	1	11
Rotherham	2	2	0	2	77	34	2	0	10
Hull Ionians	4	2	0	2	103	105	2	0	10
Sheffield RUFC	2	1	0	1	67	68	2	1	7
Otley	3	0	0	3	69	94	1	2	3
Huddersfield	2	0	0	2	43	80	1	0	1
Wharfedale	1	0	0	1	19	34	0	0	0