Match Report: PARFC 7 - 17 Hull Ionians (Nat 1)

A healthy crowd of 1,083 watched the return fixture with Hull Ionians due to the club reducing ticket prices to enable other fans of other sporting teams in the City to attend. With a weather forecast of torrential rain for large parts of the afternoon, it would be imperative that Albion look after the ball. Likewise, kicking long and deep into the opposition half to relieve pressure on Albion’s defence would be a sound consideration. And having suffered a loss at Hull Ionians earlier in the season, lessons would need to be learnt and a suitable game plan executed in extremely difficult conditions.

Albion kicked off, playing with the elements towards the North End terrace. They made a good start by retaining possession and territory in the Hull’s half, but they were unable to put an early score on the board. Within no time at all, Hull Ionians had capitalised on an Albion error, enabling Hull skipper Joe Makin to score from a five metre catch and drive. Isaac Green then sent over a superb conversion in swirling winds.

Throughout the first half Albion tried to play too much rugby in the wrong areas, leading to mistake after mistake as Hull kept turning ball over and exploiting a very fragile looking defence. If Billy Searle had slotted the early penalty instead of hitting the post it might have given the team the lift they were looking for.

For the vast majority in the ground, Albion were not just struggling with the atrocious conditions on the day, their decision making was simply not up to its usual standards. Hull only made rare visits into Albion’s 22 in the first half, but came away on each occasion with a five point score, building up a very useful half time lead; PARFC 0 - 17 Hull Ionians.

In evidence for large parts of the game was the Ionians’ superior pack, as well as their fly half James Ferguson’s kicking opportunities to a very lively and alert winger Aquile Smith. Following a referee and assistant get-together on a couple of close calls, they went the way of the visitors.

Albion had numerous opportunities in the first half to record at least a couple of tries, as much time was spent on the Hull try line, only to be turned over and see the away defence clear it’s lines.

The home support tried to rally the troops and encourage Albion to better things in the second half. Hard as they tried, further mistakes became evident. Hull kept up the intensity by pinning Albion back into their 22. The home side tried in vain to keep trying to run the ball out deep in their own half, only to lose possession by knocking on or be stripped of the ball.

With the rules as they are in Nat 1, Hull’s management of their forwards was superb in the conditions bringing subs on and off to ensure their imperious display was maintained. When the changes did come for Albion, Hull were not as dominant as they had been. As they began to tire in the mud, Albion’s pack pushed Hull off their own ball in, and this led to replacement Dan Collier registering Albion’s only try of the afternoon. Matt Shepherd brilliantly kicked the conversion in the 70th minute.

I am sure in the cold light of the day during the dreaded review on Monday, the squad will quickly put this performance out of their minds and look ahead to putting things right at another tough-looking away fixture at Fylde.

There was a serious looking injury to one of the Hull Ionians players. We wish him well and a speedy recovery.

In truth today, Hull played the conditions far better than we did and kicked far better for territory to enable their forwards to set a platform of dominant mauls and taking advantage of errors in the appalling conditions. Let’s certainly hope for better weather in the North West next weekend.

It was great to see the 200 Club today sponsor the match. Well done to Vince (and Jill!) Jones for his usual efficient organisation. Over 100 enjoyed an excellent carvery lunch in the East Stand Suite, followed by with raffles, draws and typically guarded words from DoR Graham Dawe. Regular traveller Dan Hills (“Going up Camborne Hill, coming down...”) was presented the sponsors shirt. Hopefully, it will be the first of many such games in the future.

Come on Albion!