Yorkshire RU round-up: Ireland's 19-point haul helps Tigers inflict defeat on Leicester

Hull Ionians' Sam Wilson.Hull Ionians' Sam Wilson.
Hull Ionians' Sam Wilson.
Mark Ireland was on form for the Sheffield Tigers as they recorded an impressive '¨29-22 victory at home to South Leicester in National Two North on Saturday.

The visitors came into the game having taken maximum points from their first three games, but Tigers started brightly with Ireland kicking a penalty and then adding the extras from a Liam Wallace try.

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The visitors hit back through Adam Shaw but Ireland restored the hosts comfortable lead with two more penalties, one from the halfway line.

Leicester fought back though and a try either side of the break saw them ahead, before Ireland again slotted a penalty over to level the scores.

Centre Jamie Broadley restored Tigers lead with a converted try, before Ireland took his points tally to 19 for the afternoon with another successful penalty to wrap up the Tigers’ second win of the campaign and inflict Leicester’s first defeat.

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Huddersfield secured their first win, a 22-13 victory over Macclesfield.

No 8 Richie Piper scored the first half’s only try to send Huddersfield in 5-3 ahead at the break, but the visitors hit the front early in the second half with a penalty and converted try of their own.

Forward Lewis Bradley got the hosts back into the game with a try, Jonny West adding the extras before West struck a successful kick to put Huddersfield 15-13 ahead.

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Back row Nick Sharpe then went over, West again converting, to wrap up Huddersfield’s first win of the campaign.

The wait goes on for Wharfedale and Sheffield who are both still without their first wins of the season.

Winger Oliver Cicignini scored Wharfedale’s only try with fly-half Tom Barrett adding five points as they went down 45-10 at home to Stourbridge.

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Meanwhile, Sheffield did lead 17-7 at half-time away to Sale, but a brace from Aaron Read helped the hosts fight back in the second half, taking the spoils 31-17.

Elsewhere, Otley lost out 35-24 at Blaydon.

Hull Ionians’ struggles continue in National One, they lost for the fourth consecutive weekend going down 36-26 at home to Old Albanians.

It took Ionians just three minutes to take the lead, hooker Ali Thomson going over with Greg Lound Converting.

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The visitors led at the break though, Ben Cooper and Elliot Obatoyinbo both scoring tries, before the Ionians restored their lead, Jacob Heath and winger Sam Wilson both going over in the space of eight minutes.

Back came Old Albanians, left winger Craig Dowsett and centre Dan Watt both scoring tries but Ionians thought they had won it eight minutes from time when Heath grabbed his second try of the afternoon to secure the bonus point.

However, the visitors snatched the win in dramatic fashion with two tries in the final two minutes of the game, Dowsett and Obatoyinbo both scoring their second, to condemn Ionians to another defeat.

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Full-back Benjamin Magee scored two tries as Ilkley took a narrow 30-29 victory at Billingham in the North Premier league.

The home side dominated the early stages but Ilkley responded strongly, coming back from 22-8 down to win.

Scrum-half Blake Morgan weighed in with Ilkley’s other try and the rest of the points came from the boot of Charles Morgan, including the winning penalty kick.

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Morley and Sandal played out a 10-10 draw in their derby clash, while Hull were 27-23 winners at Harrogate and Pocklington went down 61-26 at home against Kendal.

West Leeds made it three wins from four in North One East with a fine 27-17 home victory against Malton and Norton.

West Leeds raced into the lead with tries from Kier Breakwell, Sam Neave and Steve Anderson, along with three conversions and two penalties from Dale Breakwell.

Malton came back strong but the hosts had enough points on the board to hold on for the win.

Elsewhere, Cleckheaton were 38-36 winners at Driffield.