Students tested by Ionians as Hull pay price for Murphy's red card

Hull Ionians can be proud of their performance against the leaders, who scored two tries in the last five minutes.

The Students soon struck on the counter-attack, flanker Dave Hughes crossing and George Drake converting before Oli Marns sent Steve Slingsby racing in for Ionians.

The game flowed and Phil Burgess caught the ball on his own 22 and raced away for a try.

Ionians applied pressure but could not break through until Joe Wright struck a penalty.

After the break, the Students took a yellow card after a tackle in the air and Ionians struck from an attacking lineout, Rob Whittam finding support from Slingsby, whose try was converted by Wright.

The Students retook the lead when an attacking lineout was driven over, James Cullen claiming the try. Then, after Richard Wigham was carded for offside, the Students struck with tries for Dave Hughes and Nathan Lambdenr, Drake converting.

Leicester Lions 30

Hull 15

Hull had to play 70 minutes with 14 men as they lost for the first time since early November after captain Chris Murphy was shown red after a challenge reported by the touch judge.

Five minutes in, Lions' Gareth Collins was sin-binned for impeding a good kick and James Cameron struck the penalty.

Hull's Alex Campbell was shown yellow for foul play and Ben Walker crossed before adding another after Murphy's exit. Scott Alfred made the score 19-3 at the break with his try coming from a lineout.

Tries from Laurence Pearce and rob Devonshire, following a strong run from Tevita Vaikona, cut the gap to four points but Jon Boden kicked two disputed penalties and Walker got his hat-trick with the last move.

Bradford & Bingley 14

Kendal 23

The Bees' inability to turn pressure into points may well be their undoing in the relegation battle.

There were periods in the first half where Kendal looked to be establishing an attacking platform but the Bees were on top for two-thirds of it but only held a seven-point lead through Tom Davidson's try and conversion.

Kendal got back into the game right on half-time as Chris Park galloped in for a score.

A penalty try for the home side, as Terry Sibanda was impeded, brought the Bees right back into the game following Ian McDowell's try for Kendal but the home side were finally undone by Mike Scott's slotted drop goal in the final five minutes which deprived the Bees of the losing bonus point.