Our Weekly National 2 North Round-Up

There were three County Derbies played on November 18^th and just one Roses clash.

The first County game saw Otley visiting Fylde where the Lancastrians built up a half-time lead of 28-10 before winning the match by 41-18.  The biggest crowd of the day (605) saw Fylde score five tries to Otley’s 2, with winger Sam Carleton and hooker Ben Gregory both touching down twice in the first half.

Fly-half Greg Smith converted all five and added two penalties to record a seven from seven success rate. Otley were generally second best for most of the game as the score suggests. Greg Smith took the Man-of the-Match award in recognition of his faultless goal-kicking.

Hull RUFC made the short journey to Rotherham where the second-placed side were too strong for them as they posted a 28-9 win after leading 17-9 at the break. The two big packs had a rare old tussle with not much to choose between them and despite their defeat some good work in defence restricted the Titans to just three tries.  Man-of-the-Match was the Titans prop Charlie Capps who came on as a replacement in the first half and scored two tries.

Third and fourth in the table met at Wharfedale’s Avenue ground with the visiting Sheffield Tigers holding a three point lead over the home side in the league table. 595 spectators saw a fine display from Wharfe who finished the game as 31-17 winners after scoring four tries to the Tigers two. They led 24-3 at the break and secured the try bonus point in the 41^st minute. The Tigers scored their tries in the 62^nd and 80^th minutes but went home empty-handed as the two clubs swapped places in the league table, The Wharfedale prop Sam Dickenson took the Man-of-the-Match award.

Sheffield RUFC welcomed bottom side Huddersfield to their Abbeydale Park ground and by half-time had built up an unassailable 40-7 interval lead, having secured the try bonus point in doing so. They were just as ruthless during the second period when they added another five tries to their first half six. The Sheffield scrum-half Elliot Fisher probably got the Freedom of the City of Sheffield as he created a new all-time club try-scoring record of six tries in a match, as well as converting seven of the tries scored. Needless to say, he was awarded the Man-of-the-Match for a superb display in his sides 71-19 victory. Despite their heavy defeat a game Huddersfield scored their customary three tries.

Hull Ionians travelled north to Corbridge to take on Tynedale and two well-matched sides put on an entertaining game which saw Ionians leading 18-10 at the interval. The lead changed hands several times during this game and as the game went into added time Ionians were leading by 25-21, after Tyne had come back strongly during the second period. They then had a player yellow-carded before a string of close-range penalties resulted in a penalty try to Tyne who won the game 28-25. The try bonus point went to Tynedale and the losing bonus point to Hull Ionians. The Tyne full-back Rob Parker won the Man-of-the-Match award.

League leaders Leeds Tykes scored seven tries to three on their visit to Lymm, five of them in the first half as they raced to a 33-0 lead by the break. Surprisingly, Lymm took the second half by 21-10 in a much closer second period for a final score of 43-21. The Man-of-the-Match was the Tykes scrum-half William Hardwick, who also scored two tries.

Finally, new boys Billingham continue to falter when in a high-scoring game they lost 38-24 to visitors Preston Grasshoppers, with the game virtually over at break with the Hoppers leading 28-5.  The game was riddled with indiscipline and Hoppers were down to thirteen men at one time. Hoppers scored six tries to Billingham’s four. Scrum-half Rory Brand of Preston won the Man-of-the-Match award.

After all of these matches there is no change at the top, with Leeds Tykes on 54 points, followed by Rotherham Titans on 47 with a game in hand. Wharfedale are now third on 33,

In the nether regions Huddersfield are bottom on six points, Hull Ionians are on 19 whilst Billingham and Lymm are both on 20 and both have a minus 77 scoring points difference.

Next Saturday will see the long-awaited clash between Leeds Tykes and Rotherham Titans, with the Tykes having home advantage. It should be a cracker of a game.

Ferensian.

The Unofficial National 2 Yorkshire Table

	P	W	D	L	F	A	TB	LB	PTS
Leeds	7	7	0	0	285	145	7	0	35
Rotherham	6	6	0	0	225	66	6	0	30
Wharfedale	7	4	0	2	180	125	4	1	21
Sheffield Tigers	7	3	0	4	216	191	4	1	17
Hull Ionians	6	3	0	3	163	177	3	0	15
Hull RUFC	7	3	0	4	156	191	2	1	15
Sheffield RUFC	5	2	0	3	180	157	2	1	12
Otley	5	1	0	4	108	159	2	3	9
Huddersfield	4	0	0	4	78	176	1	0	1