HULL IONIANS U-15’s v HARROGATE U-15’s

Harrogate’s U-15 side made their mums proud but must have disappointed the Hull Ionian mums by romping 10 unanswered tries past their lads at the superb facilities of Brantingham Park on Mothers’ Day.

Nick Gilbert opened the scoring by diving over from a cheeky throw to the front of the line-out on Hull ’s 5 yard line which left the defence napping. The next score was the result of a splendid move which began when Will Clough switched direction following a scrum to set Greg Minikin away for a superb solo break and offload out of the tackle to Skipper Max Simmons who touched down under the posts with his first of four for the match only for the conversion attempt to be charged down.

‘Gate were moving the ball wide at every opportunity and good follow up running from Alex Nicholls (playing at fullback) saw him cross the whitewash for the first of his brace after which Hugh Tatlow closed the first half at 20 – 0.

The opening try of the second half really was a team move to savour beginning on ‘Gate’s 22 with the ball moving left through several pairs of hands and then switching diagonally right across the field all the way to the home side’s 22 with quick ruck ball moving left once more through the backs for Alex Nicholls to dummy, change direction through the gap and touch down under the posts to make it easier for Max Simmons to convert.

Shortly afterwards Max Simmons ran in his second try from the right wing before Harry Parrish had the opposition supporters applauding by running a perfect line against the direction of the drifting defence and, hitting the ball at pace, was simply unstoppable.

The next was a pick and drive forwards’ try with four or five phases of recycled ball in Hull ’s 22 until Tom Dodwell’s low body angle and pumping legs carried him over.

The Skipper’s hat trick try was almost missed when everyone on the pitch stopped playing in the belief that the ref had blown his whistle. It turned out he that hadn’t and the alert Max Simmons, who had fought his way into the goal area before play stopped and was still in possession of the ball, dropped to the floor!

Just to make sure, Max ran in another try and Will Hebblethwaite managed to slot the conversion (after several other kickers during the game had tried and failed in the windy conditions with a ball that felt like concrete) to close at 54 – 0.

Man of the match – Max Simmons.