Blaydon Make It 3 Wins in a Row at Crow Trees!!
Blaydon started brightly and on 3 minutes, a good break from Alex Charlton from inside his own half was held up on the Hull 22 but the ball was fed out to Ewan Stephens who somehow ghosted through the Ionians defensive line to score under the posts, which enabled an easy conversion for Clarkson.
For the next 10 minutes it was honours even but Blaydon found themselves in the Hull 22 and a great running line by back row Paddy Cooper saw him nearly over the line but when held up just short of the line, John Clarkson was on hand to score.
Just 2 minutes later a great break by Nathan Bailey after taking a high ball inside his own half took the game to Ionians 22 where he passed to Marshall who put in Scrum half Clarkson for his 2nd try in 2 minutes.
Then after another few minutes Blaydon scored again, this time it was a quick tap penalty on the Hull 22 by Clarkson who put Winger Jonny Ashman in for Blaydon’s bonus point score (24-0).
The next 10 minutes were more of the same but without the finishing touch but on 30 minutes Blaydon opted for a 5 metre scrum from a penalty and 2 phases later Clarkson dived over to complete an excellent first half hattrick.
Blaydon continued to play expansive rugby but on 36 minutes Hull profited from a Blaydon mistake on their own 22, and shortly after the error Hull kicked a penalty to the corner and from the subsequent line out 5 metres out, Ionians hooker Stephenson was the conductor at the back of Hull’s maul from the catch and drive and he rumbled over for their first try, which was well converted by Minikin.
Just a few minutes later Hull scored again, this try was a mirror image of the first so this time an attacking line out on Blaydon’s right wing and Stephenson was again the man with the ball in his hands as the maul trundled over the line.
Half Time Blaydon 31 v Hull Ionians 14
The first 20 minutes of the 2nd half were scrappy in comparison to the first with Hull enjoying a territorial advantage and spending a lot of time in the Blaydon half, although Blaydon to their credit defended admirably. Eventually on the 62nd minute when yet another catch and drive led to Stephenson’s Hattrick.
Blaydon’s response to this try was excellent and shortly afterwards it was Blaydon’s turn to kick to the corner and from the resulting line out Blaydon went over the try number 6. This time it was 2nd row Austin Phillips who went over to take the score to 36-19.
Hull responded 7 minutes later with a breakthrough the centre of Blaydon’s back line by Britton who put Minikin in to score.
Happily for the hosts that was the final score of the game, finishing 36-26, Blaydon completing a third home win in a row.
Full Time: Blaydon 36 v Hull Ionians 26
Blaydon: Bailey, Ashman, Cooney, Clark, Stephens, Appleton, Marshall (C), Clarkson, Dodds, Winter, Brantingham, Charlton, Phillips, Cooper, Harrison, Clarke.
Replacements: Gray, Fearn, Hall-Lyon, Richardson, Sommarsall
Hull Ionians: Minikin, Wilson, Britton, Bullough, Burnhill, Smith, Pocklington, Morton, Stephenson, Laverick, Makin, Campbell, Heelas, Sanderson, Mewburn
Replacements: Thundercliffe, Powell, Foffie, Metcalf, McDaniel
REFEREE: Nathan Howarth
ATTENDANCE: 127
STAR MAN: Blaydon – John Clarkson
Scorers:
Blaydon 36
Tries: Stephens 3, Clarkson 16, 18, 30 Ashman 21, Phillips 67
Conversions: Clarkson 4, 19, 22
Penalties:
Hull Ionians 26
Tries: Stephenson 35, 41, 62 Minikin
Conversions: Minikin 36, 42
Penalties:
Many thanks to Chris Nunn for the Match Report and Kev Dodds for the fantastic pictures.
