National One: Thomson red card proves costly for Ionians but Wharfedale fight back for win

A red card for hooker Alistair Thomson after 26 minutes gave the Lancashire side a distinct advantage, and although Ionians battled on, Fylde made their numerical advantage count.

Prop Stephen Johnson had touched down after just two minutes and scrum-half Isaac Green converted as the hosts went ahead, but Fylde hit back with second-row Gareth Rawlings touching down on 19 minutes, stand-off Chris Johnson converting.

The sending-off put the hosts under pressure and a penalty try was awarded which Johnson converted. Rawlings’s second try was followed by the conversion and a penalty from Johnson as Fylde went 24-7 up at the break.

Replacement Ralph Dowds scored Fylde’s fourth try and Johnson converted, but Ionians refused to yield and their pack pressured Fylde until they conceded a penalty try on 61 minutes, Green converting.

Flanker Laurence Cowen finished off a good move with a try on 69 minutes, which brought them back to 31-19 but No 8 David Fairbrother pulled one back for Fylde.

Replacement Keane Naylor scored a fourth for the Yorkshire side, which gave them a four-try bonus point, but they had run out of time to challenge for a comeback win.

Wharfedale coach Tommy McGee was pleased with his side’s second-half performance, which saw them come from behind to defeat Henley Hawks 26-17.

Liam O’Neill converted Thomas Bliss’s ninth-minute try to give the visitors an early lead and although a Thomas Guy penalty reduced the arrears soon after, the Hawks centre was on hand again to add the extras to Thomas Hall’s 22nd-minute try.

Crucially, the Greens hit back on the stroke of half-time through Jordan Poole, whose try was converted by Guy to leave Henley 14-10 ahead.

Guy kicked the hosts to within one point before converting Cameron Hudson’s 53rd-mintue effort to put Dale in front for the first time.

Two further penalties from the full-back sealed victory.