Wharfedale hang on as Ionians’ debut is ruined

Leading 38-12 after 70 minutes, the Greens had a straightforward victory sealed.

Then without warning – having looked a very moderate side – the Raiders were transformed into marauding raiders, scoring four tries in the final 10 minutes.

Had their discipline been tighter earlier in the game, home stand-off Tom Barrett profiting with four penalties, it might well have been a winning resurgence. As it was, they celebrated two improbable bonus points, winning the try-count six-four.

The Dalesmen ruled the first half, their forwards giving the Worthing pack little respite. Mauled tries in the third and 25th minutes (scrum-half Philip Woodhead and flanker Aaron Myers making the touch-downs) added to a try by No 8 Rob Baldwin and 10 points from Barrett, saw them to a 25-5 half-time lead. Flanker Joseph Heaver grabbed the visitors’ try. Two further penalties from the reliable Barrett boot, and a yellow card (persistent off-side) for Raiders’ first-half scorer Heaver, had home fans hoping for a huge win.

A try for Worthing centre Kiba Richards (55), converted by scrum-half Joseph Govett, was quickly matched by home centre Will Bell, crossing by the posts after intercepting a wild pass.

Jack Maslin, Alexander Neilsen, Oliver Richards and Nielsen again surged through nervy Greens defence four times in the final 10 minutes before time eventually ran out on their fightback.

Hull Ionians 12 Coventry 41

Hull Ionians received a baptism of fire on their National One debut at Brantingham Park.

The hosts ran in a try in each half, while their Midlands rivals broke through six times.

Second-row Dan Wright got Coventry off the mark, full-back Cliff Hodgson converting, before Barry Davies and Will Hurrell stretched the lead.

Winger Dan Smith got Ionians on the board with a try on 24 minutes. However, the last word of the half went to Wright, who bagged his second for Coventry, Hodgson converting to make it 26-5.

With both sides a man down following yellow cards to Dan Smith for Hull and Dan Wright for Coventry, Ionians hit back with flanker Mark Wigham scoring just before the hour mark and stand-off Chris Reakes converted to make it 29-12 and give the hosts a glimmer of hope of a comeback.

But it proved to be newly-promoted side’s final score, while Coventry ran in two more tries from winger Hurrell and No 8 Jacques Le Roux, Hodgson converting the latter.