Hull Ionians U14 v Bridlington Match report 14/9/08

Hull Ionians (U14) vs Bridlington (U14) Sunday 14th September

Perfect conditions for running rugby saw a close, and fiercely contested, game at Brantingham with Bridlington just edging Ionians by 40 points to 34.
The early stages saw Bridlington dominating at the breakdown and in the tight, driving Ionians off their own ball at the set scrum, and taking an early lead with a fine try under the posts.
With real pace out wide Ionians were looking to play to their strengths, and a quick hands through the back line saw winger Luke Johnstone released from halfway only to be hauled down just short of the line.
A series of try stopping tackles by Alexander Wilkinson, who had one of his best games in an Ionians shirt, inspired his team to contest more fiercely for the ball and work their way back into the game.
However, a series of missed tackles and dropped passes enabled Bridlington to wrest back the advantage and ease their way into a 24-12 lead early in the second half, with their stand out players Jamie Martin, Elliot Backhouse, and full back Spencer Day well to the fore in both attack and defence.
Far from letting their heads drop Ionians continued to work hard for the ball, and despite losing Luke Johnstone with a fractured collarbone, they showed real grit with Alexander Wilkinson, Jack Johnson and Peter Oughtred all crossing the line .
With only seconds remaining an individual break from halfway with a sidestep past the last Bridlington defender saw Peter Oughtred over the line for a second time take Ionians into a 34-33 lead.
That was time enough though for the versatile Spencer Day to open up the Ionians defence one last time, and cap an all round performance with the match winning try to see Bridlington home.