Hull 38 Ilkley 3

THERE can’t have been many at the Ferens Ground that did not think a battling Ilkley side deserved a losing bonus point.

Even the most cyclopsian among the home support should acknowledge that even when giving away several kilos a man in the pack, the Dalesmen tackled their hearts out.

After an hour’s play, the score stood at just 7-3 to the hosts, much to the amazement of the home support and coaching staff, but a nasty injury to Chris Gemmell, his second of the season, seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors.

Hull’s pack bossed the last quarter, with the hugely-impressive South African Stuart Nel bagging a brace of tries and Number Eight, Joe Stafford claiming his second. Interestingly, both players only managed 70 minutes of play apiece, as both had seen yellow in the first half.

Ilkley surprised their hosts from the kick off, when Hull failed to secure the ball and JH Johnson pounced. Ground was made, but the final pass didn’t go to hand and Hull were able to clear when Ilkley’s scrum wobbled and was penalised.

The opening score came after 15 minutes when a quick penalty saw Hull full back Lee Birch create a try for the supporting Stafford which Tomasi Tanumi converted.

Tanumi missed with a penalty before Ben Magee was high-tackled by Nel, who was yellow carded for the offence. Ilkley kicked to the corner where a good catch by Charlie Davy from the line-out and quick pass to Johnson nearly led to a score, but the ball was held up and Hull cleared.

Stafford followed Nel to the sin bin for preventing Ilkley from taking a quick penalty. Skipper Joe Rowntree closed the gap to 7-3 with a well-struck kick.

The remainder of the half was all Ilkley’s, but Hull defended well and kept them out.

Ilkley’s pack enjoyed a good spell at the start of the second half and won two penalties in as many minutes as Hull’s front-row failed to cope.

Hull’s midfield defence was the equal to Ilkley’s attack and despite some seriously good probing runs by the Dalesmen’s backs, the home side’s defence prevailed.

The game turned in the home side’s favour. A good take by Stafford from a line-out saw the ball flew out to the backs with centre Joseph Martin scoring as Ilkley ran out of cover. Tanumi’s conversion extended the lead to 14-3.

There was a further setback for Ilkley with Gemmell suffering a shoulder injury in the build up.

Ilkley’s resolve was broken after a knock on spoilt a promising attack. Hull scrum half Harvey Harding made 50 metres from the scrum and found touch with a chip kick.

Hull won the line-out Nel went over for a try which Tanumi converted to stretch the lead to 21-3.

The same man was on hand again five minutes later as Ilkley tired and the bonus point try was duly awarded, followed by another successful conversion.

With just five minutes remaining, Hull turned the screw and Ilkley conceded another two scores, the first when prop Mike Jobling popped up at outside centre to outpace the cover and the second when Ilkley’s kick-off was caught on the charge by second-row Lee Brown. His run set up another score for the tireless Joe Stafford and the coup de grace was delivered, even if Tunami did miss both kicks.

All credit to Hull, who took their chances well, but hats off to a valiant Ilkley side, who played with great determination and courage throughout. Their spirit is a great credit to the club and the second half of the season holds great promise.