Hull Ionians (U14) vs Sandal (U14) Sunday 18th January 2009

Hull Ionians (U14) vs Sandal (U14) Sunday 18th January 2009

With the expected Yorkshire Plate quarter final not taking place as scheduled after I’s opponents conceded the tie, Sandal stepped in at short notice to play at Brantingham on a chill, blustery, day .
Despite an initial strong start from the home side, the visitors soon found their stride with their pack dominating in the loose and the tight to grab hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and give their backs a steady stream of good quality ball.
One of I’s difficulties this season has been their inability to make the critical first tackle, allowing opponents the opportunity consistently to get across the gain line and make good yardage, resulting in I’s finding themselves on the back foot and fighting rearguard actions. Today was no exception and I’s simply have to be more aggressive in the tackle, and start contesting more vigorously at the breakdown or they will continue to find themselves swamped, as they were in the first half of this match.
By the time the sartorially elegant Stuart Towns (clad this week in delightful cerise and white instead of his trademark Chanel canary yellow) blew the whistle for the break Sandal had the game wrapped up with a lead of 27-0, having run in 5 tries.
The muttering from the touchlines amongst I’s dedicated camp followers was about just how big a cricket score Sandal might run up in the second half. But if there is one quality which I’s do have in abundance it is guts, and in the second half they upped the pace, never let their heads drop, and continued to battle right to the end against what must be acknowledged as a well drilled and physically superior outfit.
It was only in the final 5 minutes when I’s were out on their feet that Sandal stretched their lead with another 3 tries to close out the game with a flourish.