(Apologies, but this was written before this weekend’s matches:)
There were just two Yorkshire County derby games played on November 4th along with two Roses games and the day saw several high-scoring games with some very close finishes. We start with the derby game at Clifton Lane where Rotherham Titans found themselves in the unusual position of being pushed all the way and very nearly beaten by their lowly visitors Otley, who had previously only won one of their seven matches. Rotherham won the game by 34-32 after trailing by 25-14 at half-time but eventually scored five tries to Otley’s four. The Titans were leading by 34-25 up to the 77th minute before the Otley centre Stead scored a try and a conversion to set up a nervous last few minutes for both sides. Otley richly deserved both bonus points on offer and came very close to causing the biggest upset of the current season. The Titans left-winger Jack Taylor was awarded the Man-of-the-Match.
Hull RUFC travelled to Threshfield to take on third-placed Wharfedale where their three match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt with a 35-6 defeat against the 6-try Dalesmen, who have now won six of their eight games. Hull trailed 18-6 at the break but with Wharfe scoring two more tries in the second period they ended up a well-beaten side, resulting in a drop from 4th to 6th in the league table. Wharfedale’s lock Jack Hedgeley won the Man-of-the Match award for a fine performance in the pack.
Over at Lightfoot Green, Preston, the Hoppers and Sheffield Tigers fought out a nail-biter of a game with both sides scoring five tries. The home side led 15-7 at the break and were also leading by 39-36 until the final minute of the game when the Tigers Man-of-the-Match Barney Groatley scored his third try to steal the game for the Dore Moor boys. The Tigers also take the fourth spot in the table while the Hoppers were good value for taking both bonus points.
The second Roses match of the day saw Fylde entertain (if that is the right word!) bottom side Huddersfield in a very one-sided match at The Woodlands which the home side won by 62-19. They led by 34-7 at the interval after scoring four tries in the first half and repeated the dose with four more in the second period. All eight were converted along with two penalty goals. The Fylde captain, Ben Gregory took the Man-of-the-Match award for his second-half hat-trick. Huddersfield took full advantage of their rare chances to score three tries.
League leaders Leeds Tykes travelled north to take on new boys Billingham at their Greenwood Road ground where the biggest crowd of the day (567) saw their side give a battling display in a very entertaining game. In a very tight first half the sides were very well matched as the half-time score of 0-0 would suggest, but the visitors upped the ante and scored four tries to two in the second period. Billingham were down to 13 man at one time, which did their cause no good at all, enabling the Tykes to score four tries whilst scoring a couple themselves in a spirited display for a final score of 29-12 to the Tykes. The Tykes prop Toby Williams took the Man-of-the-Match award.
Sheffield RUFC went just a little further north than Leeds when they took on Tynedale at their Station Road ground in Corbridge. Tyne had a good first half to take an interval lead of 12-0 from two tries and a conversion. The South Yorkshiremen came back well in the later part of the second period but with three minutes remaining Tyne were still leading by 19-12 before Sheffield struck again when substitute Matthew Adcock crossed for his second try which Fisher converted for a 19-19 draw. Man-of-the-Match was the Tynedale prop Gus White.
Last, but certainly not least, Hull Ionians, fielding three debutants and a new player coach crossed the Pennines into Cheshire to visit second from bottom Lymm at their Crouchley Lane ground on a very rainy day. This game proved to be another cliff-hanger with Lymm scoring four tries to Ionians three. After a very tight first half Ionians were leading by 16-15 and the second period followed the same pattern but by the 57th minute Ionians had built a 30-20 lead and were looking good value for it. But in the 60th and 66th minute Tom Shard, the Lymm fly-half, landed two penalty goals to make the score 30-26 before a late 78th minute try by winger James Pitcher crossed for the winning points including the try bonus point. Hull Ionians had to be satisfied with a losing bonus point. Tom Shard was awarded the Man-of-the Match award after scoring one try, one conversion, three penalties and one drop-goal.
The positions at the top of the table are unchanged with Leeds Tykes on 45 points, Rotherham Titans on 38 with a game in hand, and Wharfedale on 28. In the nether regions Huddersfield are still on 6 points, Hoppers on 15 and Otley on 16.
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 