Electric Watts is spark for Ionians

HULL Ionians and Fylde have been playing each other for 20 years and their 30th meeting was just as entertaining as their previous matches.

By BRIAN NORMAN

Hull Ionians……36pts Fylde……………….22pts

The home side like to mix power play with strong back play, while Fylde have always run everything, retaining possession as long as possible.

Their latest encounter was on a warm April day with nothing to play for but pride, and the entertainment was excellent.

Fylde opened the scoring after three minutes, retaining possession well with good support play finished by captain Matt Garrod.

Six minutes later driving from a penalty line-out saw Hull Ionians held, but Ben Smith chipped to the corner where Charlie Kirk gathered and ran close to the posts for Smith to add the goal.

Four minutes later, exerting pressure from another penalty line-out, they scored again when a Smith miss-move sent star man James Watts clean through.

Fylde retained and moved the ball well but with no gain as the game went end to end.

However, after 27 minutes, the hosts struck again with pick and goes completed by Joe Makin diving over, with Smith adding his second conversion.

Fylde replied twice in two minutes through missed tackles creating overlaps, which saw Ben Turner racing in and then running from their own 22 for Adam Lanigan to complete the move. Dan Slawson adding this goal to trail 17-19 at the break.

Fylde were on a warning for too many collapsed drives, and after 45 minutes Garrod received a yellow card.

The hosts crossed twice after forcing penalty lines-out. The first was held but Will Wood powered over out wide, and then Ben Stephenson was driven over.

Fylde replied, creating an overlap for Leo Gillibrand to run to the corner, but Hull Ionians provided a strong finish.

Kirk ran powerfully to reach the line but lost the ball in the tackle but Adam Brankley had the final say from the Fylde goal-line drop out as he powered his way to the posts from 40 metres out, Smith adding his third goal.

Hull Ionians coach Maliq Holden was pleased with his team’s performance, fighting on to the end of the season despite a dozen injuries to first-team players, two more added last week.

It gave a chance for colt Layth Bailey to make his debut, one of many young players showing promise for the future.

And the day was crowned by the news that the Hull Ionians v Sheffield second team playoff final had seen Hull Ionians win in the final play.

All action: James Watts scores for Ionians and, below, Adam Brankley goes over for the final try to seal the win

PICTURES: David Winn