Last Saturday N2N had two Roses clashes, two Yorkshire Derby derbies and 3 other games.
In the first Roses fixture fourth from top club Fylde rolled into the Ferens Ground on the back of six consecutive victories to take on fourth from bottom Hull RUFC who had lost their last four matches. In what was probably the shock result of the day and after a contest that was always in doubt and very even and entertaining, Hull won the game by 23-21 after leading 13-7 at the break.
Both sides scored three tries with Hull’s No 8 Adam Brankley scoring twice in the first half whilst lock Mike Walton crossed for the visitors. Fylde hit back well in the second period with tries from Jordon Dorringtpn and Peter Latham to put them 21-16 ahead, but in the 63rd minute Hull centre Bureta Faraimo crashed over to give his side the winning lead and to earn himself the M-0-M award. Attendance 257.
The second roses clash was at Wharfedale where the home side posted an emphatic 40-14 victory over Preston Grasshoppers after leading 21-14 at the break. Wharfe scored 5 tries, 4 of which where converted with the Hoppers scoring 2 both of which were converted. The Wharf lock and captain Peter Hedgley took the M-o-M award and the attendance of 595 was the highest of the day in N2M.
The first Yorkshire County Derby was at Otley where Otley took a first half lead of 14-12 over Sheffield Tigers before having to settle for a 24-24 drawn match. The Tigers scored 4 tries to Otley’s 3 but Mark Ireland could only convert 2 of them whilst the Otley scrum-half Rowntree landed 3 cons plus a penalty goal. The M-o-M- was the Tigers right-winger James Norman and the attendance was 271.
Meanwhile Sheffield RUFC and visitors Hull Ionians put on a 73-point thriller where the half-time score was 21-21 before Sheffield won the game by 40-33. Sheffield scored 6 tries to the Ionians 5 and converted 5 of them whilst Lewis Minikin, the N2N leading points scorer with 117 points landed 3 for the visitors. The M-o-M award went to the Sheffield hooker Rhodri Campbell. Attendance 208.
In another high-scoring drawn match at Corbridge, Tynedale and Harrogate both scored 5 tries in a 33-33 result following a 21-21 interval score. The Tyne kicker Cameron Grant landed 4 conversions while Harrogate’s Tom Steen kicked 3. In the last moments of added time Steen also missed a penalty which would have won the match for ‘Gate, whose centre Kristan Dobson took the M-o-M award. Attendance 550.
League Leaders Lymm had to make the long journey to Billingham to take on a side that has gradually slipped from high in the table and down to the nether regions. Lymm have now won their opening ten fixtures but they did not always have it their own way. After trailing 26-7 at the break Billingham had a better second half before losing by 38-26. Lymm scored 6 tries to Billingham’s 4 and their winger Paddy Jennings took the M-o-M honours. Attendance 310.
Second-placed Leds Tykes bounced back in fine style following their defeat by Lymm last week when they scored 11 tries in a 75-31 demolition of Chester at the Sycamores. 10 of these tries were converted and Chester scored 4 tries to gain a try bonus point. The half-time score was only 28-17 to the Tykes who really hit top gear in the second period with their left winger Eliah Chityo scoring a hat-trick to take the M-o-M award. Attendance 395
The top four places in the table are unchanged with Lymm on 50 points, followed by Leeds Tykes on 46. Sheffield have 45 points and Fylde are 9 points adrift with 36. In the nether regions Hull RUFC have Moved up from 12th to 10th and are now on 19 points. The bottom four are Harrogate on15 points, Sheff Tigers on 15 points, with Tynedale and Billingham both on 17 points. Readers of The Rugby Paper may have noticed that the Hull v Fylde game is mentioned in the results but the clubs have not had their league placings adjusted.
The top games (based on league placings) for November 23 are Lymm v Wharfe where first play fourth; Preston v Sheffield where sixth play third, Chester v Billingham where eighth play tenth; and Fylde play Leeds Tykes where fourth play second.
Wherever you are, enjoy your rugby.
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 