DOUGLAS’ SIDE SEE OFF HULLENSIANS
Scarborough scored an injury-time try to snatch a 15-8 victory at Hullensians and maintain their promotion challenge following a closefought Yorkshire One encounter on Humberside.
SCARBORO’ SUCCESS
HULLENSIANS 8 SCARBOROUGH 15
Injury-hit Hullensians were still reeling from a 52-19 thrashing at Acklam the previous week, however, they started in a fashion to blow away memories of that embarrassment.
With Mikey Readman missing from the visitors’ line-up skipper Matty Jones started the game in the second row with Alessandro Zavatti propping in his place.
This pack re-shuffle wasn’t a success and the Hullensians eight bossed both line-out and scrum in the opening quarter of the game in which Scarbor- ough failed to get out of their own half.
Richard Scales joined the fray in a re-shuffled visiting pack in the 18th minute.
Following a superb defensive performance last week, the Seasiders struggled at times to lay a hand on their opponents in the tackle and make some impression at the breakdown.
It was therefore no surprise when full-back Jonah Steel crossed to open the home side’s account in the 21st minute following a period of sustained pressure in the visitors’ 22.
Stung into action, Scarborough took the game to Hull and made inroads into their territory for the first time in the game and although they were initially repulsed, a slick pass from Jones found lock Aaron Wilson up in support to drive over in the right corner in the 25th minute.
Fly-half Tom Harrison, who is in a fine vein of form, added the extras for a 7-5 lead.
Following recent encouraging performances, the Seasiders ball-retention and failure to penetrate in the midfield was a big disappointment, however, a period of sustained pressure late in the half produced a penalty for Harrison who kicked his side to a 105 half-time lead in the 39th minute.
Scarborough spent time camped in the Hull 22 at the start of the second half and had several chances to extend their lead but failed to breach a solid home defence.
Hullensians continued to dominate at scrum time with the route-one ball to number eight Ollie Dynan their preference, his breaks from the base of the scrum had the visitors constantly on the back foot and in trouble.
The Humbersiders reduced the lead to 10-8 with a 65th minute penalty and the game could then have gone either way.
Scarborough defended with true grit, Isaac Faamau, Devin Ibanez, Ben Martin and Richard Scales leading the way.
Behind the scrum Tom Harrison was outstanding in defence and attack and fullback Tom Ratcliffe was always a threat.
With time running out and two points separating them, a mistake by either side would have cost them the game.
It looked as if wing Matty Young had scored the clinching try for the visitors following slick work wide on the their left in the 80th minute.
However, the visitors’ joy was short-lived as Scarborough touch-judge Dave Coates had flagged (correctly) for a foot in touch by Young.
Scarborough turned the screw and pinned Hullensians in their own 22 in injury-time and a similar move to Young’s earlier effort in the same corner two minutes later saw scrum-half Jordan Wakeham release flanker Ben Martin, who sprinted over to touchdown and win the match.
Harrison shaved the post with his conversion attempt but he’d already made a massive contribution to his side’ winning efforts.
By comparison to some recent entertaining performances served up by Lee Douglas’ charges this was stodgy fare.
However following their previous performance on Teesside, Hullensians were playing for pride and this was always going to be a dour war of attrition.
As such, Scarborough’s mental toughness in a close game played in dismal conditions was very much to their credit.