Yorkshire review: Stunning fightback takes its toll but Hull Ionians close the gap

The hosts flew out of the traps, running in four tries in the first half with the visitors having a single penalty from Isaac Green to show for their efforts at 28-3 down.

Ionians rallied and began a remarkable comeback thanks to two tries from Callum Irvine and one from Phil Eggleshaw, all converted by Green, a run that saw them trail by just four points at the break.

Just after the interval, the visitors took the lead and secured a bonus point through a penalty try, Green adding the extras, at 31-28.

The comeback had taken it out of Ionians as Coventry pulled away into a lead which proved to be unassailable with three more tries of their own, despite a late score from Greg Lound.

Ionians stay in 15th in the table, cutting the gap to Blaydon to a single point with eight games still to play.

Wharfedale remain under pressure at the wrong end of National Two North after falling to a 36-12 defeat at third-placed Leicester Lions.

Dan Stockdale and Josh Burridge had both gone over to give the visitors a 12-10 lead after 42 minutes.

Wharfedale’s indiscipline cost them, seeing three players sent to the sin-bin, including Joe Scott and try-scorer Burridge.

The pressure told when the visitors were down to 13 men, and the Lions ran in four second-half tries to send Wharfedale home empty-handed.

Sheffield Tigers also failed to take any points from their home game with Chester after falling to a 37-26 defeat, keeping them in the bottom two.

The hosts looked on course for victory as they pulled into a 23-7 lead at the start of the second half.

Jamie Broadley scored two tries on his 100th appearance for the Tigers, with Tom Farrell also on the scoresheet.

Chester fought back to reduce the arrears to just three points, before Mark Ireland kicked a penalty for the hosts to take his tally for the match to 11 points.

The hosts were then reduced to 14 men and Chester took full advantage, White, Foden and Baston all going over.

Huddersfield survived a scare, coming from behind to preserve their 100 per cent record with a 28-16 win over Wirral in National Three North.

James Annetts scored all 16 points for the visitors to put them 16-6 up at the break, Chris Bell kicking two penalties for the hosts in a half that saw Ben Hoyle sent to the sin-bin.

Huddersfield proved why they are league leaders in the second half, though, as Callum Thompson and Adam Malthouse scored tries to give them the lead, before a penalty try wrapped up the victory.

There were no such scares for Hull, who kept the pressure on the top two in National Three North after a resounding 76-7 home win over Stockport.

The hosts ran in 12 tries, with scrum-half Harvey Harding, full-back Lee Birch and centre Joe Martin each scoring a brace.

Harrogate threw away a 10-7 interval lead and lost 21-10 at home against Sale. Otley were also beaten, 38-20 at Tynedale.

Doncaster Phoenix went down 41-10 as Rossendale completed the season’s double at Castle Park.

Former leaders Sheffield have a game in hand but are off the pace in National Three Midlands after a 24-14 defeat by Peterborough at Abbeydale Park.

Pocklington consolidated their lead in North One East with a bonus winning 33-3 home victory over Durham City. Second-placed West Hartlepool were restricted to two tries in a 17-15 home win over Penrith.

Bradford & Bingley are still the second Yorkshire side in North One East despite Driffield scoring the only two tries of the match in a 16-9 home win over the Bees.

Malton & Norton moved ahead of Durham City and picked up a valuable bonus in a 29-21 home win over Percy Park, avenging a 27-19 away defeat earlier in the season.

Dinnington, also now above Durham, had to work hard for a 30-27 win at Guisborough, where the hosts scored four tries to three to pick up two bonus points.

Bridlington extended their Yorkshire One lead with a five-try 29-13 win at Yarnbury, while second-placed West Leeds scored seven tries in a 51-5 win at Hullensians and third-placed York crossed nine times in a 61-7 victory at tailenders Acklam.