Fylde position grim after Ionians claim vital points
ALEX Crockett was pleased with his Hull side’s tenacity as they edged Fylde in a game that had significant implications on the race for survival.
A try from Richard Stout and three penalties from Christopher Bell proved enough in a game that lacked any real quality from either side, particularly in the opponents’ 22.
With the season reaching crunch time, Hull Ionian’s director of rugby claimed the team were concentrating on themselves and not what was happening with the teams around them as the league comes to boiling point.
“Conditions weren’t great for both teams,” said Crockett.
“Credit to Fylde for turning up and putting in a good performance but we’re pleased with the four points.
“If we win ugly, but we win, I’ll take that every day of the week. Performances matter but at the end of the day it’s about winning.
“Going forwards we’ve got to control what we can and concentrate on our team plan, and not worry about anything else that isn’t in our hands.”
Hull Ionians scored the first try of the game with a clinical set play from a scrum, with Rikki Stout eventually going over to touch down.
Fylde’s Greg Smith nearly broke through a solid Hull defence after 20 minutes, but the referee controversially adjudged the pass that found the No.10 to have gone forward, much to Smith’s dismay.
A kick to the corner set a perfect platform for the forwards to form a wellrehearsed driving maul routine, Adam Lewis the benefactor as he scored Fylde’s first points of the day to get them up and running.
Two penalties late on in the first half were converted by Chris Bell, giving the visitors an important sixpoint cushion going into the break.
A third penalty from Bell on the hour mark proved to be pivotal in the end, as it moved Hull in front by more than one converted try.
The second half proved to be a case of missed opportunities for the home side with a number of chances being squandered.
The Fylde backs combined to put Henry Hadfield in under the posts, and a successful conversion from Gregory Smith meant there was two points between the sides with all to play for.
Fylde failed to launch a meaningful attack in the remaining eight minutes however, and Hull Ionians held on for a very important victory given the standings in the table.
Fylde’s stand-in head coach Alex Loney was pleased with his side’s performance, despite the result.
He said: “In many ways we got ourselves into a position to win the game so performance-wise there are things we can be satisfied with, but ultimately we’ve fallen short.
“We had a few execution issues and if we’d have put those chances away we would have come out with a win. It’s a tough one to take, especially after getting so many things right.”