Not at their best but Ionians go top of table
MARTYN Wood admitted his Hull Ionians charges were not at the top of their game against Fylde, but added it was good to get back to winning ways.
More was expected from two sides of this pedigree, but an error-strewn 80 minutes left a slightly flat feeling amongst supporters from both sides, despite the occasional moments of class from the peerless Tom Carleton.
And despite tries from Ben Stephenson, Toni Kuku, Adam Brown and Lewis Minikin, Wood was not completely satisfied despite coming out victors.
“We spluttered to the win,” he said. “It wasn’t a top of the table performance.
“It’s good to get back to winning ways but we won’t get carried away. We will just take each game as it comes.”
Fylde made their intentions clear from the start when Ralph Dowds carved a hole through the Ionians defence to feed centre partner Connor Wilkinson, Greg Smith converting to put the visitors 7-0 in front.
Ionians struck back with two Minikin penalties before Smith stretched the lead for Fylde with success from the tee. Ionians then combined well to get within striking distance of the Fylde line.
A lineout was cleanly gathered by Ed Falkingham and driven on and over, with Stephenson credited with the touchdown. Minikin struck a welljudged conversion to take the lead for the hosts, which they held to the break.
A flurry of activity on the hour saw the sides exchange scores; Ionians went over following a concerted forward effort affording them the chance to whip the ball out to Kuku, who was able to gather the ball and muscle his way over close to the flag. Minikin surpassed himself with a terrific kick.
That good work was undone within a minute, with Fylde hitting back with a belter of a score, started and finished by Carleton. Smith added the goal to fetch the score back to 20-17.
Ionians then enjoyed a slice of luck to extend the lead. Adam Brown found himself ten metres out with ball in hand following a mistake in the Fylde defensive ranks, showing commendable composure he dummied his way to the line and under the posts.
The hosts were thankful for a try saving tackle from James Tincknell before they made the game safe and claimed the bonus point, with fortune favouring Minikin as he followed a hack from Ollie Fox to gather the bobbling ball and race over.
Winger Tom Grimes claimed a score in the closing minute but it was no consolation as Ionians regained top spot.
Fylde director of rugby Warren Spragg said: “We were a bit stretched today, without our usual 2, 8 and 13. We needed to be at our best to get anything from this match. I’s have taken ten points off us this season and we can’t afford to give that away to top sides. We left some tries out there and ended up kicking possession away. I am a bit frustrated.”