Mighty Minikin toasts a try treble in big points haul

HULL Ionians won this re-arranged fixture at a canter, scoring nine tries in all, with hat -rick performances from both prop Ben Bell and fullback Lewis Minikin.

South Leicester scored their solitary effort with the final play of the game.

It was no sort of a consolation for a second-half display which saw them virtually disintegrate against the pace and power of the home team.

Ionians opened the match with a successful catch and drive, crossing with consummate ease to go 5-0 in front.

But they rested on their laurels to allow Leicester to gather momentum, though much of their movement was lateral.

They kept Ionians within their own half and, when Ionians were penalised at a scrum, South Leicester took an easy pot at goal to reduce the deficit.

Ionians got back into their stride when James Tincknell broke away.

They worked the ball close to the Leicester line and Bell was over from a pick and drive.

From the restart, flyhalf Tom Stephenson ghosted through the defensive line and, once he had drawn the cover, delivered a perfect pass to Minikin who raced away to score.

The goal pushed the score to 17-3.

Ionians weren’t finished, however, and Bell added his second try in copybook fashion.

A well-struck kick from Minikin took the sides to the break with Ionians 24 – 3 to the good.

They made a slow start to the second half but added five tries in a little

over a quarter of an hour, with South Leicester left chasing shadows.

Bell completed his hattrick with another shortrange effort before James Sanderson was alert to a loose ball to pounce and dive over.

Minikin then grabbed two tries in quick succession to complete his triple.

Again, he was grateful to a break from Tom Stephenson to give him a clear run in. Ionians left the best until last.

Tincknell finished a free flowing move involving excellent inter-play and handling to push the score close to 60 points.

South Leicester revived sufficiently, when in possession late in the game, to fashion a score from veteran Wes Cope.

But it put no real gloss on a very one-sided match.