Newcomers boost Ionians as Cameron kicks Hull to victory

Ionians’ pack dominated the close exchanges and out wide their backs were penetrative.

Hoppers made the perfect start, winger Matt Hughes going clear on the overlap but Ionians powered their way back and full-back Mike Bateman ran through for Dave Marshall to add the conversion.

Hoppers retook it with a penalty by Graham Holroyd but Ionians destroyed Hoppers’ next attack and Isaac Green kicked the length of the field where an attacking scrum saw Bateman in the line to run through again.

Holroyd kicked a penalty before Will Du Randt swooped in and Marshall converted to make it 21-11 at the break.

Danny Hague and Ross Noonan combined after the break to send in Du Randt for the bonus point try and Marshall increased the lead with a penalty.

Hoppers scored a late converted try through lock Alex Austin.

Hull have gone five games unbeaten and are starting to fulfil the promise they showed in earlier matches.

Stockport opened in style and put Hull’s line under great pressure for the first five minutes but had only a penalty from full-back Longmore to show for their efforts.

Hull’s Cameron struck back before centre Slingsby went over for two tries in the 11th and 21st minutes.

Cameron’s conversions seemed to have put Hull in command but Stockport showed there own spirit and organisation when they fashioned an excellent drive on 37 minutes to see free-scoring flanker Smith credited with the touchdown which Longmore converted.

Early in the second half, Hull’s attack was halted illegally and Cameron made no mistake with the penalty.

No 8 Ollie Cook had to go of injured but replacement Maxwell Lewis was soon in the thick of the action. A further exchange of penalties made it 23-13 and that is how it remained for the last 15 minutes.

Battling Sheffield Tigers were unlucky not to take something from the match.

The second-placed Cheshire side took the lead in the first minute with full-back Michael Roberts touching down and centre Gavin Roberts converting.

Sheffield hit back with prop Mark Chivers barging his way over on 13 minutes, and stand-off Jonny West kicked the conversion before Caldy retook the lead with left-winger Liam Devaney racing in and Roberts adding the extras.

Full-back Pete Swatkins crashed over five minutes before half-time for Tigers, but the difficult conversion was missed, and the visitors made it 19-12 with second-row Nick King adding their third try.

No 8 Josiah Dickinson added a fourth converted try before replacement hooker Ali Thomson hit back for Tigers with a 56th-minute try which winger Alex Graham.

Tigers had their sights set on at least a losing bonus point but Caldy’s defence stood firm and Roberts kicked a 79th-minute penalty to extend their lead past seven points.