Of the fixtures played on March 1st in N2N only one was a Roses clash and only two were County derbies. League leaders Leeds Tykes travelled to Preston Grasshoppers where they posted a 45-10 victory after leading 14-3 at the break. They scored seven tries to the Hoppers one with five of them being converted. The Hoppers were put to the sword for most of the game and this showed when the Tykes ran in three triwes in the final twenty minutes. The Man-of-the-Match was Adam Brown, the Tykes hooker. Attendance 367.
Second-placed Sheffield RUFC ran in eight tries against bottom side Billingham in a 52-17 victory. Billingham competed well in the first half when they restricted Sheffield to a 17-10 lead at the interval. Six of the eight tries were converted by scrum-half Elliot Fisher. Chris Hooper their left-winger scored tries in the 3rd, 29th, 43rd and 68th minutes and fully deserved the Man-of- the -Match award. Attendance 325.
Hull RUFC dropped back into third from bottom when at Lymm after the home side broke a three match losing run with a very convincing 50-24 win over a Hull side who matched them in the first half which ended with Lymm leading by 22-14. They scored seven tries to Hull’s three with their full-back Finlay Hobson converting all of them plus a penalty goal. He is proving to be a good replacement for Hull’s former marksman Reece Dean who has returned to professional Rugby League with Goole Vikings. Man-of-the-Match honours went to Paddy Jennings the Lymm left winger. Attendance 279.
Chester entertained Otley and after a very good display in the first half, which they led by 24-8 at the break, giving their home fans thoughts of an easy win. Otley had other ideas though and gave a dominant second-half performance scoring 32 unanswered points for a 40-24 victory. They scored six tries, including a penalty try, to Chester’s three. They were helped considerably by an outstanding display from centre Eddie Crossland whose field-kicking was of the highest quality. He also landed two conversions and a penalty goal in the closing minutes of the game and was duly awarded the Man-of-the-Match honours. Attendance 250.
Fylde welcomed Tynedale to The Woodlands Ground and although the Dalesmen led 12-10 at the interval the home side produced a strong second half display to take the half by 17-7 for a final score of 27-19. Fylde scored five tries against the Dales three to secure both bonus points while the visitors returned to Tyneside empty-handed. The Man-of-the-Match went to Lewis Quinn, the Fylde back-rower.+
Attendance 1002, the highest of the day in N2N.
The first of the two County derbies saw Hull Ionians at home to Wharfedale where they posted a 24 12 win after leading 14-0 at half-time. Ionian scored three tries to Wharfe’s two after a closely contested game. The home sides kicker Lewis Minikin contributed to the win with three conversions and one penalty goal.
Finally, in a bottom of the table clash against visitors Harrogate, Sheffield Tigers won a tense game by 34-18 after trailing 11-10 at the break, in what their player-coach James Broadley described as “one of our worst performances of the season”. The Tigers scored four tries to ‘Gate’s two but midway through the second half the visitors were leading 18-13 and playing well. The game was won for the Tigers in the final minutes when left-winger James Norman scored in the 76th and 79th minutes, followed by another try in the 5th minute of added time from centre Ben
Manderfield. All three tries were converted by fly-half Will Baker , who had already landed a conversion and two penalty goals. James Norman took the Man-of-the-Match award. Attendance 223.
The situation at the top of the table remains unchanged with Leeds Tykes on 94 points, Sheffield RUFC on 90, and Lymm on 81. In the nether regions the bottom four are Sheffield Tigers on 44 points, Hull RUFC on 40, Harrogate on 33 and Billingham on 31.
Every side in the Division have now played 20 games and with only 6 games remaining the end of season tensions loom, in what Sir Alex Ferguson once referred to as “twitchy bum time”!!. As most of you will know only one side are promoted from the three National League Two sections. But at the bottom it is slightly different, the bottom sides are relegated whilst of the second from bottom sides the one with the lowest points total are also relegated. Hull lonians found themselves in a similar situation last season when they avoided the drop by just one league point.
My top four games for March 8th, based on league placings, are as follows;
Hull RUFC v Chester, where 12th play 8th.
Billingham v Preston Grasshoppers, where 14th play 10th.
Otley v Fylde, where 9th play 4th
Leeds Tykes v Lymm, where 1st play 3rd
Where ever you are, enjoy your rugby.
Ferensian.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 