Man of the Match v Harrogate

In the absence of the official photogropher I have scoured our records for an old picture of Joe. I'm not sure the waistcoat would fit anyway.
This is how he would have looked if we still had a photographer

Ionians win in the snow

Hull Ionians 12 - Harrogate 6

Harrogate travelled to Brantingham Park on a chilly Sunday morning with snow on the ground. The ground beneath was not frozen and the early morning sun helped the decision to play.

Harrogate were short of a few players and although I's were not fully up to strength, they were able to spare Ryan Rodgers and Alistair Wilde who performed valiantly for the opposition.

Ionians started well with plenty of ball being won by the forwards and several attacks nearly breaking through the Harrogate defence. The visitors however were determined and throughout the game showed great resilience, tackling anything that moved.

Harrogate's tactical kicking game was effective and threatening and although Sam Wilson dealt well with most of the kicks well, poor support for the full back left I's looking vulnerable. Eventually Harrogate gained enough ground to get within sight of the posts and a cleanly kicked penalty put the 3 points ahead.

I's continued to attack and after being held up over the line several times, Isaac Green playing at 10 raced through a gap to put the home team in front for the first time in the game. The conversion made it 7 - 3 and the game continued in a similar vein until the break.

The second half saw a slightly changed Ionians team and the return of Henry Waine at outside centre, the Ionian's attacks though were still repelled by a strong Harrogate defence. A flat Ionian's line had failed to make the most of the ball in the first half and continued after the break. The forwards then started to run off the back of set pieces and the break downs to good effect. Hodges and Midgely being particularly successful, recycling the ball on each occasion.

After about 10 minutes a penalty near the line was fed to Jordan Help who steamed over the line to score and showed another big attacking asset available.

Harrogate fought back well and tried several nearly successful back moves as well as more tactical kicking. With about 7 minutes to go another penalty kick put the within 6 points of the home team and although I's nearly added to their tally Harrogate also came close to more points.

I's having learned some lessons from the York game were better but still wanting in attack and still suffered from poor communication. Joe Midgely playing at No 8 was awarded man of the match in what was an extremely fair and good tempered game of Rugby in the snow.

York spoil the party

Ionians confident of an easy victory strolled onto the pitch like something out of a Kevin and Perry movie and trained at half pace for an hour before ambling out again for the kick off.

Appearing almost deaf to their instructions and the coach’s demands for concentration, the players conspired for their own defeat.

Under strength due to County commitments and injury, victory would still be easy as the game started with I’s playing into the wind.

The majority of the first half was spent in the York half although little ball reached the back line as the York forwards sought to kill the ball however they could. When it did reach the backs it was dropped or knocked on as Ionians wasted chance after chance.

The York 10 fired a long drop goal home after a an isolated foray into the Ionian’s half and having been held up over the line on at least 3 occasions, Ionians went into the break 3 points behind.

A few changes were made but the players seemed determined to complicate the required simple game plan.
Early in the second half, poor communication resulted in a spilled ball which was collected by a pacey York player who raced half the length of the pitch to stretch the lead to 8. The conversion made it 10 and suddenly Ionians were in unchartered territory.

For 20 minutes, Ionians piled on the pressure as York defended with great determination and commitment. Without penalty however , they killed the ball continually and prevented opportunities for Ionians to capitalise on their possession.

Jordan Help managed to force his way over the line with about 15 minutes to go and the conversion left a 3 point gap.

I’s continued to pile on the pressure with some forwards giving everything but from most there was lethargy or panic. Poor decision making and numerous handling errors left the previously unbeaten Ionians stunned as the final whistle blew.

York 10 - Hull Ionians 7