There were just two county derbies and two Roses clashes on November 11th in Round 9 on another day of high-scoring games in the Division, which as the season evolves is proving to be very interesting with sides in the top half of the table unable to take victories for granted when they play the lower sides.
The match of the weekend in the county games was the first v third match when Leeds Tykes v Wharfedale saw 965 spectators watch the Tykes maintain their 100% record with a 20-8 win after leading 17-0 at half-time. Wharfe came back very well in the second period to restrict the Tykes to a penalty goal with a fine defensive display whilst scoring a try and a penalty goal themselves. The Leeds No8 Junior Nu’u was declared the Man-of the-Match.
Second-placed Rotherham Titans travelled to Brantingham Park where Hull Ionians were no match for them apart from the latter stages when they scored three tries in the 68th, 72nd and 75th minutes, all of which were converted. The Titans led 14-3 at the break but in a blistering six minute spell in the first ten minutes they scored three tries to they put the game out of reach for the home side. In all, Rotherham scored seven converted tries for a final score of 49-24. Their back-rower John Okafor had an outstanding game and was chosen as the Man-of-the-Match.
The first Roses clash was at Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, where Preston Grasshoppers were the visitors. The Hoppers were in fine form, scoring seven tries in a comprehensive 41-17 victory after leading 22-5 at the break. For the second week in succession ‘Field scored three tries but are now twelve league points behind the side above them. The Man-of-the-Match was the Hoppers flanker William Riley.
The second Roses game saw Sheffield RUFC at home to Fylde in a very good game of rugby, with both sides scoring four tries. Fylde were trailing 17-7 at the interval but they came back strongly, helped by Sheffield being down to thirteen men for a period. With five minutes remaining Fylde were leading by 28-26. Sheffield’s day was saved when they scored a 79thminute try followed by a penalty goal for a final score of a 34-28 home win. Fylde took both of the bonus points on offer and the Sheffield scrum-half Elliot Fisher, who had scored four conversions and two penalties for his 14 points, was awarded the Man-of-the Match award.
Sheffield Tigers posted their fifth win of the season with a good 35-25 home win over Billingham, who trailed 27-6 at half-time. The Tigers scored four tries to Bilingham’s three and it seems that after a fine start to their first season in National Two North Billingham are slowly slipping down the table, having won 4 and lost 5 of their league matches. The Tigers went to third in the table with this win but their visitors left Dore Moor empty-handed and third from the bottom. The ever-green Mark Ireland won the Man-of-the-Match award for Sheffield with three conversions and three penalty goals and was a steadying influence on the side throughout the game.
Following their fine display last week in a 34-32 defeat by Rotherham, Otley posted a very good, if close, win over Tynedale on their Cross Green ground by 31-26. They led 14-7 at the break but two converted tries in the opening ten minutes afterwards made the score 28-7 and a penalty goal on 57 minutes made it 31-7. The match seemed all but over for Tyne but a penalty try in the 72nd minute was followed by two more tries in the 77th and 79th, minutes, plus one conversion, meant that it was ‘twitchy-bum’ time for the Otley faithful. A battling Tyne side went back to Geordie Land with both bonus points and the Man-of-the-Match was the Otley full-back Jacob Holmes.
Last but not least was our own Club’s fixture against Cheshire club Lymm who arrived at the Ferens Ground full of confidence following their 31-30 home win over Hull Ionians the previous week. This confidence was partly confirmed when they shot into a 17-0 lead in the first 20 minutes as they ran in three tries. By half-time their confidence was ebbing a bit as Hull pulled back to 17-17 at the interval. Lymm regained the lead in the 24th minute with a converted try and in the 61st minute were still leading by 27-20. One minute later a clearing kick from Lymm was taken by Hull’s full-back Jamie Shaul thirty metres form the Lymm line and he swerved and side-stepped past five defenders on his way to score his first try for Hull RUFC, one which will long be remembered. The try was converted to make it 27-27 with eighteen minutes remaining. In the 70th minute a line-out just within the Lymm 25-line was won by Hull and led by the redoubtable Charlie Beech the Hull pack drove over from fifteen metres for Beech to get the touch-down. The try was converted by Reece Dean and Hull had won 34-27 after a remarkable game. Lymm were very good value for their two bonus points which they richly deserved. The Man-of-the-Match was the Hull vice-captain and No8 Will Hall, who led by example throughout the game.
After the dust had settled on all of these seven games Leeds Tykes are still in pole position with 49 points. Rotherham Titans are second on 43, with a game in hand, whilst Sheffield Tigers are now third on 31. Hull RUFC have moved up one place to fifth and have 27 points.
In the nether regions Huddersfield are bottom on 6 points, Hull Ionians are on 18 and Billingham have 19.
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 