Proud Champions

Cup Final Man of the Match

Did you know I can also play the Flugelhorn

The Champions of Yorkshire

The Yorkshire Cup Final, Hull Ionians under 15s v Doncaster



Hull Ionians 24 Doncaster 0



On Sunday 27 April 2008 The final of the Yorkshire Cup was played at Brantingham Park along with the plate final between Rotherham and Guisborough. The events drew large groups of supporters and the atmosphere was buzzing as the players stepped onto the pitch.
Ionians were keen to regain their title which they lost last year after being unable to play their first round match on the allotted date and were disqualified without having taken to their field.
I’s in this years competition had beaten Malton and Norton, Old Brodleians, Barnsley and Otley on the way and were favourites for the title having already beaten Doncaster several times this season.
The powerful Donny team are always fierce opposition and the over confidence that had affected some Ionians players after their win at Otley seemed to have drained away and was replaced by some real tension. Ionians were without 2nd row Joe Reynard due to injury, resulting in them having the slightly smaller pack and the lineout having to be rearranged.
Ionians game plan was to utilise the pace and flair in the back line which throughout the season had capitalised on the clean ball they were often presented with. In the first few minutes a slick move which saw No 7 Casson come into the line created an opportunity for winger Ben Bainbridge to finish in the corner but the ball slipped through his hands and Doncaster cleared from the resulting scrum.
Ionians immediately came back and a when awarded a penalty just outside the 22, Skipper Simon Hammersley, hoping to put some points on the board, opted to go for goal. The kick drifted wide and Doncaster cleared again.
The game at this stage was far from flowing as errors and indiscipline on both sides led to stoppage after stoppage. Eventually ,Casson again stepped into the line and burst through the defence making 25 meters before off loading to Heylings who was stopped just short of the line by a desperate Doncaster defence. As the ball was recycled, Full back Sam Wilson raced into the line and straight through a gap left by the scrambling defence and scored the first try to settle the Ionians nerves.

Doncaster came straight back with several flowing moves, one of which almost saw the No 4 break through as he joined the backline. Strong defence though rebuffed the attack and Ionians went into the break with a 5-0 lead.

The second half saw the game improve as the nerves had gone and both sides were determined to play their best Rugby. Ionians saw more of the ball with No 8 Hodges jumping at 2 taking most of the line outs. Doncaster battled hard and eventually the outside centre who was outstanding throughout, broke through in the middle of the park. A try saving tackle from Wilson saved Ionians blushes and after several more phases of play, the ball reached the Ionians left wing Henry Waine who flew down the line to put I’s 10 points clear.

Chris Skelley took to the field for Jordan Help and Alistair Wilde who had come on in the second row were the first of several changes to the front 5. Ionians were now starting to dominate and Doncaster only had 15 minutes to defy the odds. To their credit they continued to battle but as I’s again were stopped short of the line, the ball was recycled to Man of the Match Will Heylings who leapt like a salmon over 2 defenders to put Ionians out of sight. Hammersley who had kicked Ionians out of trouble several times, added the conversion.

Just before the end, a try from Casson who took a pass from Wilde giving him enough space to burst through the line and score. This left Hammersley the final task of taking the score to 24-0.

Doncaster should be proud of their efforts but Ionians were worthy winners and maintained their 100 % record in the Yorkshire cup since Under 12s. This also rounded off a fantastic season in which the whole squad contributed to numerous outstanding team performances. On this occasion some spent most of the game eagerly waiting to get on but all should feel part of this year’s achievements.


Apologies for this weeks pictures but the Team photographer was more nervous than the players.

Yorkshire Cup final

On Sunday 27 April 2008 Ionians under 15s take on Doncaster in the Yorkshire Cup final. Kick off is at 2.30 pm at Brantingham Park,the home of Hull Ionians.(For direction see the Hull ionians website).
This is guaranteed to be a great match with both sides able to demonstrate the best junior Rugby has to offer. All supporters and Rugby enthusiasts are welcome.
The game is preceeded by the Yorkshire plate final between Rotherham and Guisborough, 2 more great sides.
Come along and watch a great Rugby spectacle. (free entry for all).

Hull Ionians V Bridlington

Sunday 13 April 2008

Hull Ionians 34 – Bridlington 12

Ionians entered the pool this week after being let down by Newark and also knowing they would be playing without 6 of the squad who were representing the county. Bridlington agreed to travel and came ready for a game.
Ionians turned out a bare 15 with a very different front 5 and back line were also ready for a game. Bridlington started with the ball and after a few passages of play were forced backwards and a poor pass under pressure was intercepted by Torkington near the line who scored the first of his 3 tries.
Ionians forwards continued to dominate and combining technique with aggression, recycled ball after ball. Joe Reynard came close with about 10 minutes gone but failed to ground the ball. As Bridlington failed to take advantage of the error, Joe Midgley picked up and drove over to score.
Both tries were unconverted and Bridlington regrouped but were unable to break the Ionians defence. The Ionians forwards continued to dominate and some excellent back moves were thwarted by the solid Brid defence. Wingers Bainbridge and Rodgers both having come close. Eventually Bainbridge got the space to run and crossed from about 20 meters out. Torkington also scored again after a breaking blind.
The half time score line of 20 – 0 was a fair reflection although had some of the Brid players concentrated more on playing than talking, the gap may have been less.
The 2nd half saw Ionians come close several times but good defence on the wings kept them out. With 10 minutes gone a quick tap penalty in his own 22 gave the Brid No 10 Ben Johnson enough room to race down the centre of the field to score. Johnson converted his own try and Bridlington started to grow in confidence.
Good attacking Rugby and good handling led to a try for each side, Bainbridge scoring his second for Ionians. The Bridlington 13 touching down for them. As the Ionians forwards continued to win the ball and out power their opposition, a final individual try from Torkington sealed the victory and the conversion put his individual points tally to 19.
Although some missed tackling allowed Bridlington to score twice in the game, this was an excellent team performance and although each player should be congratulated, Tom Doris, Alistair Wilde and Henry Waine deserve special mentions. Joe Midgely was also awarded man of the match.

This weeks Man of the Match

You won't get me wearing that waistcoat, I'm keeping the match ball instead!

Ionians leave it late at Old Brods

Hull Ionians Under 15s v Old Brodleians.
Sunday 6 April 2008
Old Brodleians 15 Hull Ionians 17

Ionians travelled to West Yorkshire for their first game in 3 weeks since their Yorkshire Cup semi Final success. Ionians, who were without No 10 Simon Hammersley and back row Danny Casson, rearranged and still ran out with a formidable line up. Old Brods who have proven themselves to be a well drilled and talented side were far from overawed. The home side demonstrated a determination to win and their commitment and ferocity gave a rude awakening to some of the Ionians players who have developed casual and over confident attitudes of late.
Despite the aggressive start by Brods, Ionian’s front 5 dominated throughout. In the scrums, particularly they provided a solid platform in attack and hooker Dom Carty won a number against the head.

Ionians who had started playing up the hill and against the wind, failed to capitalise on their possession and after about 5 minutes Old Brods picked up untidy line out ball and the collecting home player raced over the line from about 25 yards. The conversion drifted wide and Ionians regrouped 5 nil down.
Despite the elements, Ionians pushed back up field and had a number of opportunities to breach the defence. The Brods back line, supported by their back row repelled a number of charges forward by the Ionians attack. During this sustained period of pressure, a charged down kick touched down over the line was disallowed and No 8 Hodges reached the line from the base of the scrum but was deemed to have been held up. A move from the resulting scrum was fumbled and Brods kicked out of danger.














































Brods who had already carried one penalty into the Ionians brick wall opted for the kick when awarded another inside the Ionian’s half with only a few minutes of the first period remaining. A long and accurate kick saw them go into the break with an 8 point lead.
I’s started the 2nd half determined to take advantage of the slope and the wind and continued to dominate in the forwards. The attacking back line were held back several times before creating an overlap along the right and with speed men Heylings and Bainbridge outside him, Full back Henry Waine inadvertently placed a perfect pass into the hands of a defending centre who raced the length of the pitch to score under the posts. The easy kick then gave a 15 point lead with about 20 minutes to go.
As the noise of the home supporters reflected the excitement of having victory insight, Ionians counted to ten before going straight back down the hill and powering over the line 3 times. The first try came from a series of forward drives finished off by Joe Rennard, the second being scored by Man of the Match Josh Thundercliffe in a similar fashion.
Both tries were unconverted and still trailing by 5 points, Ionians made series of breaks down both wings to no avail.



















Ionians in traditional fashion made several changes ensuring the whole squad played and despite 3 of the front 5 being replaced continued to dominate.
With 7 minutes to go, centre Will Heylings, whose attempt to score from half way had been disallowed after his foot brushed the touchline, picked up the ball from the base of a ruck and forced his way through a gap to touch down and draw the game level. Stand in kicker Torkington converted and for the first time Ionians were in front. Brods refused to give in and fought hard for the remaining period but failed to breach the strong Ionians defence.