There was just one cancellation in the N2N Division fixtures for December 7th when the Billingham v Fylde game was called off. There were two Yorks County derbies and just one Roses clash.
Sheffield Tigers, 12th in the table, almost provided what could have been the shock of the season so far when they travelled to Leeds Tykes and gave the second placed side a real testing before going down by 12-11 in what the Tykes reporter called ‘a war of attrition’.
The Tykes led by 7-6 at the break thanks to a Kit Keith try in the 32nd minute, converted by James Watts, but Mark Ireland kept the Tigers in touch with two penalty goals in the 4th and 27th minutes. Winger Ewan Evans scored 59th minute try for Leeds and William Barker crossed for the Tigers in the 65th minute but Ireland was unable to convert. Tom Williams, the Tykes centre took the M-o-M honours. Attendance 220.
The second all-Yorkshire game saw Hull RUFC post a much-needed victory over fellow-strugglers Harrogate at the Ferens Ground. After leading 17-5 at the break Hull went on to win the game by 29-12, scoring five tries to Harrogate’s two. Hull’s first-half scorers were Duell Trueman, Jose Uriburo-Gray,
and Adam Brankley. In the second half Bureta Faraimo bounced off three would-be tacklers for a fine try before substitute prop Charlie Beech barged over in the 71st minute to make the score 29-5. Harrison Astley converted two of those tries. Gate got a consolation try from Steve Maycock in the closing minutes which was converted by Steve Steene. Adam Brankley of Hull took the M-o-M award. Attendance 124.
Elsewhere Wharfedale and Chester had a close-knit result of 22-19 to Wharfe who failed to take more advantage of a 17-5 interval lead as Chester hit back with two converted tries during the second period. Wharfe scored four tries to Chester’s three from Harry Bullough, Zeb Heyes(2) and Dan Stockdale. The visitors’ scorers were Daffyd Williams (2) and Craven, with Bagshaw converting the second two. Wharfe took the try bonus but it could have been more. The Wharfe centre Josh Prell was voted M-o-M. Attendance 309.
Over at Cross Green, Otley and Tynedale pt on an entertaining display with the visitors scoring five tries to four to win by 41-26 after leading 31-14 at the break. The Tyne forwards dominated proceedings for most of the game but Otley, who were reported as giving a better performance than in recent weeks, scored a last -minute try to win a deserved bonus point. Four of Tyne’s tries were converted as were three of Otley’s. Joe Davis, the Tyne scrum-half took the M-o-M award. Attendance 126.
At Abbeydale Park home side Sheffield RUFC gave a great display to be the first side to defeat league leaders Lymm, by a convincing 24-5 after holding them to a 5-5 interval score. The result took Sheffield to the top of the league table as Lymm were unable to cope with the home sides set-piece dominance, which led to their four to one try-scoring result. Sheffield’s tries came from Jack Dawson, Archie Crapper, Cameron Catleugh and Rhodri Campbell. Callum Posa converted two of the tries. Lymm’s solitary try came from fly-half Jack Reynolds. Callum Pose was M-o-M. Attendance 375.
Finally, Hull Ionians posted a fine 39-0 victory at Preston Grasshoppers after leading 32-0 at the break. They scored five tries from Lewis Minikin (3) Sam Pocklington and George Mewburn and with Minikin landing 4 conversions and two penalty goals it was a comprehensive victory for Ionians who had lost their two previous games. Lewis Minikin also took a very well deserved M-o-M award after scoring 29 points during the game. Attendance 350.
The positions at the top of the table now show Sheffield , Leeds Tykes and Lymm all on 55 points from 12 games with Sheffield the new leaders. Fylde
despite not playing are in fourth place with 37 points. The bottom four are Hull RUFC on 24 points, Sheffield Tigers on 20, Harrogate on 20 and Billingham on 18.
The top fixtures for next Saturday (based on league placings) are Sheffield Tigers v Billingham where 12th play14th, Tynedale v Hull RUFC where 9th play 11th and Fylde v Wharfedale where 4th take on 5th.
Wherever you are, enjoy your rugby.
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 