Rugby Lions put in their worst performance of the season, which coincided with surely Hull Ionian’s best, to produce a most unlikely result at a bitterly cold Webb Ellis Road. The writing was on the wall from the kick-off with the visitors hogging possession and forcing Rugby to defend.

This defence was breached in the fifth minute when Hull number eight Acton crashed over from close range. Birch converted to give the visitors a deserved 7-0 lead. James Hawken reduced the deficit to one point with a brace of penalties, but the respite was brief and Hull were soon dominating again. Karl Birch restored Hull’s lead to four points when Rugby were deemed to be offside in the backs, 25 metres from play.

Lions then enjoyed their best period with some good mauling by the pack, and Tommy Turner touched down under the posts, only to be denied by a penalty to Hull for crossing. A loose clearance kick by Hull from their own try line went straight to Matt Goode. He set Dominic Wareing off on a strong run before switching inside to Ade Hales to score a lovely try. James Hawken converted to give Rugby a 13-10 lead with the clock showing 44 minutes.

The desire and commitment of the visitors, given their fight to avoid relegation, was far greater than that of the Lions, and they were to regain their lead following more forward pressure with scrum half James Green strolling over from a pick up from the base of a five metre scrum. Birch converted to end the first half scoring.

With Rugby now playing into a very strong wind, the omens were not good, and Hull soon increased their lead when Wilf Barclay, who had replaced Danny Facer at half time, was penalised for not staying on his feet. Birch was again successful with the penalty. Rugby responded well, helped by a string of penalties when the visitors prevented the ball from being released in the ruck situation. Following a lineout the home pack drove to within a metre of the try line, but again the visitors killed the ball. Another line was taken and Ade Hales looked to have freed Barclay down the left wing, but the pass was just behind him and the chance was gone.

A long pass from Hales was intercepted on the home 22 and led to a try in front of the clubhouse for Hull replacement Donkin. Birch again converted to extend Hull’s lead to fourteen points. Back came Rugby, and following the sin binning of Hull’s James Green, Matt Goode wriggled through to score a good try, with Hawken again converting. From a ruck on halfway with a visiting player again lying offside, Wilf Barclay was given a spell in the bin for over-zealous use of the boot in trying to move him out of the way.

Hull got a drive going from the resulting throw-in and got to within two metres of Rugby’s try line before the maul went down. Bizarrely the referee awarded a penalty try to the visitors which Birch converted. As the players went towards the centre circle for the re-start, the official showed Sam Overton another yellow card, presumably deeming him to be the culprit for pulling the maul down.

Product of a two club merger, Hull Ionians are first time visitors to Webb Ellis Road next Saturday, though one half of the merged clubs, Hull & East Riding, were regular opposition in the 1960s and 70s.

Currently in 11^th place, Hull Ionians have won 9 of their 22 games and lost 13. Home wins include, Cleckheaton, Morley, Orrell and Darlington MP. Away victories were secured at Orrell, Preston GH, West Park, Darlington and Cleckheaton. Home games were lost to Darlington, Macclesfield, Tynedale, Rugby, Blaydon, Leicester Lions and Preston GH, while games on the road were lost at Fylde, Morley, Leicester Lions, Darlington MP, Macclesfield and Tynedale

Rugby won the away game comfortably 13-35 last November, but Hull are now seriously close to the league guillotine and they will no doubt mount a stern contest for the four points on offer.

They are likely to give the Lions a harder afternoon than they experienced at Cleckheaton last weekend and they will require as much respect as Tynedale will demand when they come for the last home game next month.