Our National 2 North Weekly Round-Up

The fixtures played on December 9^th included just one Roses clash but there were also three County derbies played.

The Roses game saw Rotherham Titans visit Lightfoot Green Lane for the fixture against Preston Grasshoppers who are still looking to win their first home game of the season. They are still waiting as the Titans proved to be far too strong for them despite a spirited first half performance which ended with the Titans leading 10-7. They took the lead after seven minutes with a try from Callum Bustin followed by another from Zak Poole in the 25^th minute. In between these scores the Hoppers Ellis Causey crossed the line to give them some hope. The second period saw the Titans score four further tries, making the score 34-7 to take maximum points the game. Bustin was awarded the Man-of-the-Match for a fine all-round display.

Going into the County derbies struggling Huddersfield were defeated 28-12 at home by third-placed Wharfedale who led 14-0 at the break.  The Dalesmen were by far the better side overall but Huddersfield improved in the second half scoring two tries. Wharfe took maximum points from this game scoring four tries to the home sides two. The Man-of-the-Match was No8 Rob Baldwin of Wharfedale.

Hull RUFC lost their third consecutive game when visitors Sheffield RUFC won convincingly by 33-15 after leading 21-3 at the break. Hull had a better second half scoring two tries but their poor discipline during the first half gave the Sheffield fly-half Elliot Fisher the chance to land four penalty goals, which along with 2 conversions gave him the Man-of-the-Match award. Sheffield scored four tries to Hull’s two taking maximum points from the game.

Hull Ionians entertained Otley at Brantingham Park in a very high-scoring game which Otley won in the final minute after the sides were level 20-20 at half-time. Otley scored six tries to Ionians five after a very entertaining game where another No8, Ben Waddington of Otley, took the Man-of-the-Match award. Otley have hit some good form in their recent matches, winning two of their last four whilst losing very narrowly to Rotherham by 34-32 and Sheffield RUFC by 45-41. This has taken them to 28 league points, one above ourselves.

Billingham v Lymm produced the only drawn game of the day in a 25-25 result after Lymm led 17-12 at the interval. In a very even game statistically both side scored three tries, 2 conversions and two penalties, giving two league points to both sides.  Cal Morris, the Lymm scrum-half took the Man-of-the-Match award.

The fixture between Sheffield Tigers and Tynedale was postponed as the Dore Moor pitch was waterlogged. The two sides, Leeds Tykes and Fylde, missing from these results, played the fixture Saturday October 21^st, which was a blank day for the rest of the division. The result was a 30-17 home win for the Tykes.  All of these results show no changes at the top of the table with Leeds Tykes on 59 points, Rotherham Titans on 53 and Wharfedale on 43.  At the lower end Huddersfield are still on 6 points below Hull Ionians on 21 and Billingham on 22.

This week’s main fixtures, according to league positions, are the Hull local derby between Hull Ionians (13th) and Hull RUFC (10^th), Rotherham Titans (2^nd) and Wharfedale (3^rd) and the Sheffield local derby where Sheffield RUFC (4^th) meet Sheffield Tigers (5^th). It is nice to see the only two real local derbies played on the same day.

Ferensian.