Ionians maintain title pace as Otley weather storm and Tigers run riot

Stand-off Chris Reakers and visiting full-back Sean Taylor traded four penalties, but Ionians scored the first try through 
No 8 Dan Hague on the half hour, Reakes converting.

However, the visitors hit back to lead 20-13 at half time with two tries from winger Adam Birchall and centre John Ward.

After the break it was all Hull Ionians, with winger Sam Wilson touching down, Reakes converting, before forward Kerry Wood added tries on 56 and 79 minutes, while Reakes added a penalty in between them.

After a shaky start, Sheffield Tigers scored five of their six tries after half-time to complete the season’s double with a 36-13 home victory over Westoe.

Westoe had the better of the early exchanges, going ahead with two penalties from scrum-half Matthew Mellish before Tigers pulled back a try by full-back Peter Swatkins, converted by Tom Outram.

Winger Michael Doneghan raced over for two second-half tries, with the others coming from Laurence Pearce, Richard Joel and Liam Wallace. Outram converted two to seal the win.

Hull took a bonus point from a thrilling 48-37 defeat at Luctonians.

Their backs were very strong, but Luctonians’ pack gave them the edge. Scorers for Hull were full-back Jamie Wigglesworth (2), centre Motu Tony and winger Steve Slingsby.

Otley were reminded that there are few easy games as Stockport snatched a losing bonus despite playing 45 minutes with 14 men after the dismissal of Daniel Eccles.

Nevertheless, Otley earned a vital 32-22 win thanks to some magical moments.

James Twomey, given the ball on halfway, raced in at the corner only for full-back James Drew to level.

Ben Cooper added a penalty and direct running from Robert Afoa-Peterson set up a try for Mike Coady, Cooper converting before Drew went in for his second try.

Just before the break Johnathan Matthews was driven over but it was 14 minutes into the second-half before Otley prospered, Twomey again from 40 metres out. Then Dan Temm stole a Stockport throw-in 40 metres out the No 7 ran through numerous tackles to score. Cooper converted the first before retiring with a suspected broken ankle.

Stockport pulled two tries back but Otley had done enough.

Huddersfield suffered a disappointing start to 2013 after a 40-0 defeat at leaders Stourbridge.

They had clawed their way back from a run of 11 games without a victory to drag themselves off the foot of the table, having taken points from six of their last seven games.

But a trip to the runaway leaders was hardly top of coach Dan Hyde’s New Year wish-list.

Huddersfield worked incredibly hard in defence for the entire game to limit the number of chances but they were penalised 19 times and the pressure inevitably told as Stourbridge scored at regular intervals.