In the fixtures played on February 15th in N2N two were Yorks county derbies and two were Roses clashes, with thew Yorkshire sides winning both of them. The day was noticeable by the fact that two sided from the bottom four beat two sides from the top four.
Starting with the first bottom club Harrogate posted a 27-24 home win over 4th placed Fylde after trailing 14-12 at half time. ‘Gate took the lead for the first time in the 44th minute to make the score 19-14 with the conversion and then got another to lead 24-14. Fylde then hit back with a try on 60 minutes to make it 24-19 and a successful penalty goal took it to 27-19. A late Fylde try in the 77th minute set up a tense finish for a good win for ‘Gate. The Man-of-the Match was the home fly-half Metcalf. Attendance 100.
Third from bottom side Otley welcomed third from top Lymm to Cross Green and posted a resounding 31-7 victory after building up a useful 17-7 interval lead. Lymm took an early lead n the 15th minute with a converted try scored by their hooker Rob Makin, but that was the last time they were to trouble the scoreboard as Otley went on to score four converted tries from Sam Taylor in the 30th and 47th minutes, Joe Rowntree 39 minutes and Billy Nicholls in the 57th minute. All four touch-downs were converted by scrum-half Rowntree who had also opened the Otley account with a 19th minute penalty goal. Man-of-the-Match was Sam Taylor the Otley winger. Attendance 278.
Hull RUFC won the Roses clash when the defeated the Preston Grasshoppers by 41-24 at the Ferens Ground after leading 15-10 at the break. Hull scored first in the 11th minute when full-back Finlay Hobson scored a try and then a penalty goal before the Hoppers scored two tries from Josh Ree and Edward Keohane in the 17th and 38th minutes. In the final minute of the half the Hull left winger Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz scored a try for a half-time lead. The game looked to be in the balance after the Hull prop Charlie Beech crashed over and Tyler Spence scored for the Hoppers. Hull then produced a purple patch of play which began with a try from No8 Adam Brankley followed by two tries from debutant winger Jake Boardman who came on as a sub in the last quarter. His first try came from a finely judged 50 metre cross-field kick from fly-half Harrison Astley to score in the right corner in the 69th minute and then seven minutes later he picked up a loose ball in the Hull 22 to outpace the opposition for a length of the field try to score again, nearer to the goal posts. All three tries were converted by Finlay Hobson. Despite the high score the Hoppers had played very well at times and in the final minute of the game they scored a push-over try credited to back-rower Longson
and converted by Rees for well- deserved try bonus point. Adam Brankley was voted Man-of-the-Match. Attendance 153.
Sheffield Tigers entertained Hull Ionians at Dore Moor on a dour day where the visitors won a close game by 27-17 after the scores were level 17-17 at half-time. Ionians opened well and scored their first try after four minutes with a Ben Stephenson try converted by Lewis Minikin and another in the 22 minute from Alan Hudson also converted by Minikin, who landed a penalty goal in the 43rd minute. the Tigers responded with tries two tries from Dan Hawksworth in the 10th and 40th minutes both converted by Mark Ireland who also kicked a 17th minute penalty goal. Ionians scored in the 52nd minute when Minikin scored and converted his own try. The Man-of-the-Match award went to the Ionians No8 Alan Hudson. Attendance 163.
Second from bottom club Billingham were at home to Wharfedale badly needing a win but they found the Dalesmen too strong for them as their visitors scored five tries to two with two of them being penalty tries, for a 32-14 win after leading 20-7 at the interval. Billingham were repeatedly penalised at the scrum which was the main cause of their downfall. Man-of-the-Match was the Wharfe lock Jack Pinder. Attendance 361.
Chester made the long journey to Tynedale where the home side gave a below par display in a very close game which the visitors won by 31-28 after leading 21-12 at the break. Both sides scored four tries but despite the narrow score Chester were on top for most of the game.
Man of the Match was Morgan Bagshaw the Chester fly-half. Attendance 346.
Last, but certainly not least, the top of the table clash saw leaders Leeds Tykes defeat their main challengers Sheffield RUFC by 24-18 after leading 14-7 at the break. In what was described as “a nervous top of the table clash” Leeds scored three tries plus three conversions to Sheffield’s 2 tries
plus one conversion and two penalties. With Lymm having lost their last two games it looks as thought the N2N title is now a two-horse race. Last season the Tykes were in similar position only to fall on the final day to Rotherham Titans. Will history repeat itself?
Will Dennis the Leeds lock took the Man-of-the-Match. Attendance 538 – the highest in the Division.
The situation at the top of the table shows Leeds Tykes on 89 points, Sheffield RUFC on 85 and Lymm are now 9 adrift on 76.
At the bottom Hull RUFC and Sheffield Tigers have again swapped positions and Hull are now 10th on 40 points, Sheffield Tigers are on 39, Otley have 37, Harrogate have 33 and Billingham 31.
There are no scheduled fixtures in N2N for February 22nd unless Lymm, Fylde, Otley and Billingham play their outstanding games which were formerly cancelled.
Wherever you are, enjoy your rugby.
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 