Ionians grind to win over wasteful Students

IT MAY be a case of desperate times requiring desperate measures but Hull Ionians dug out another narrow win at home to Loughborough.

In a cagey, low-key match the home side conceded a horrendous number of penalties to gift Loughborough points and possession, though the Students were also profligate with the ball, butchering several gilt-edged chances.

Owen Waters gave the visitors an early lead, converting a penalty, but Ionians quickly responded when good handling gave Sam Wilson a yard of space and he showed a clean pair of heels to race in from 30 metres out.

Ionians continued to concede penalties to keep themselves under pressure and Waters had two goes at goal in quick succession, converting the second, to cut the deficit.

Students regained the lead after half an hour with a well-worked move that put Gair Currie through a hole and under the posts.

Ionians pulled a score back just before half-time with Darren Oliver in control of a driving maul to dot down. Isaac Green’s conversion came back off the post to give the Students a one-point lead at the break.

Lee Millar struck a drop goal early in the second half to take back the lead before Waters added his third penalty for the Students.

However Millar nailed a long-range penalty with ten minutes to go to secure the win for Ionians.