HULL 25 – SCUNTHORPE27
Scunthorpe travelled to Hull with further injury worries as their two talismen Laurence Pearce and Ben Hyde were both out injured.
Nick Dyson slotted into the second row, Will Dark moved to centre with Joey Mowbray starting at 9.
The Greens welcomed Jamaica trialist and speedster, Troy Edwards to the bench, Scunthorpe scored a well-earned victory which was much closer than it should have been.
In fact, it was Hull that scored first after two minutes with a well taken try from lock Alec Renouf, the home side kept their patience and pressured the green line, they moved the ball left and right, but Scunthorpe defended well up to a point and then they just run out of numbers, the big second row managed to bully his way over, number No10 Reece Dean converting, 7-0.
Scunthorpe responded well with some lively play which they reproduced most of the game, they had an excellent opportunity to score with some aggressive running left and right, making his presence felt was prop Jordan Beresford but unfortunately the referee gave a penalty 5m out and Hull cleared their lines.
Then in quick succession two further penalties were awarded to the Hull side and Dean duly accepted taking their lead to 13-0.
On the ten-minute mark Will Dark accepted a relatively easy penalty attempt but the ball just went the wrong side of the upright.
A second try scoring chance went begging five minutes later after good work from Olly Arnold and James Dyson, Hull were now committing penalties at almost every breakdown from one such occasion Scunthorpe kicked to the corner, but the ball just would not drift into touch.
The visitors from over the Bridge had to keep their patience, they were running Hull ragged and they knew eventually something would click. Sure enough on the half hour mark Joey Mowbray got the score in the corner which was converted by Will Dark from the touchline.
Once again good approach play from Scunthorpe kept the ball moving through the phases, again after more Hull indiscretion and numerous penalties Joey Mowbray took the ball from a quick tap and scored, 13-7.
From yet another Hull penalty (and still no yellow card!) Will Robinson put the ball into the opposition 22 but sadly the line out went south, and the chance went begging.
Just before half time continued excellent play from Scunthorpe was putting Hull under pressure and they could not cope with the running rugby.
Tim Robinson’s men were giving the many visiting fans a lot to shout about with their 1 to 15 style of play, the players really playing for each other.
Eventually a penalty was given in front of the posts and Will Dark slotted it over to go into the break with a very creditable score of 13-10.
Rory Rendal-Tyrell replaced James Dyson at half time so with two first choice back rowers now missing a lot of responsibility fell onto Marcus Payne’s shoulders, boy did he relish the opportunity and played out of his skin ably assisted by the versatile youngster Dan Longden.
Scunthorpe maintained the pressure and continued running Hull all over the pitch, their big heavy forwards struggling to keep up, this forced Hull into committing a further penalty, in front of the posts and Will Dark converted to draw level at 13-13.
The Greens just kept on running at Hull in this aggressive style which resulted in further penalties.
On the fifty-minute mark Nick Dyson scored a try from one such penalty after a quick tap and go, Will Dark converted to enable the greens to go into the lead,13-20.
On the hour, couple of penalties to Scunthorpe saw them put the ball in the 22 for the catch and drive, the first one didn’t work but the second one clicked, however, Hull defended well by holding up the maul and the ref gave the scrum to Hull.
Scunthorpe were now on a mission and were determined to eek out their first win and it came in the form of a 2nd Nick Dyson try. The veteran has now made two ‘guest’ appearances and scored twice in each one.
Will Dark was on fire with the boot, and his conversion put Scunthorpe two scores in front at 13-27.
As Hull were one place above the greens in the league table and four points ahead of them it was imperative to score the fourth try and keep Hull at arm’s length to maximise the points tally and go ahead of our neighbours across the Humber.
As the game entered the last ten minutes the home side were on the ropes, and it looked as though the towel was about to be thrown in.
Suddenly Hull injected some urgency into the game and from the kick off they spurted into action. Scunthorpe defended valiantly but could not get out of their own half to get that elusive fourth try.
In fact, it was Hull that scored next try on 72 minutes through second row Michael Jobling. It emerged from a Hull penalty and kick to the corner, Hull had the line out and for some reason Scunthorpe decided not to contest it, so Hull just strolled over, Dean converted and now it was interesting at 20-27.
By now we were well into over time and Hull were getting the rub of the green regarding penalties. Their forwards gained some energy from somewhere and began nudging towards the line.
Nick Dyson used all his experience to steal the ball and relieve the pressure, surely the referee would blow for time. It was nail biting stuff as the Hull players could sniff a chance to draw which would be a very underserving result. With the last play of the game fly half Dean squeezed into the corner to collect the five pointer.
As Dean stepped up to convert his own try to draw the game the whole of the travelling Scunthorpe fans were urging the ball to miss and to be fair as the ball landed short of the posts, the referee blew for time, the right result was achieved. Scunthorpe thoroughly deserved their victory at 25-27.
The whole squad had played their hearts out with MoM Marcus Payne leading the fray and Will dark showing versatility in the centre. The Greens have a well-earned break next week and they will value the rest and recovery to try to mend the walking wounded. After a difficult start to the campaign the Scunthorpe players have played the last two games with real guts, determination and a good deal of flair. This augers well as they welcome high flying Macclesfield to Heslam Park for the first time on November 8th for 2pm KO.
Match Report written by Steve Williams
MOM – Marcus Payne
WOMEN’S TEAM
SCUNTHORPE 37 – KESTEVEN 12
Player of the match : Jorja Lyons and Louise Beedham
Opposition Player of the Match : Cassie Milestone
DEVS GAME
Gainsborough 5 – SCUNTHORPE 38
Match report pending
MOM – Oliver Jepson/ Kian Ellor
The COLTS
Wheatley Hills 12 – Scunthorpe 45
The Colts made the short journey over to Wheatley Hills on a cold and wet Sunday Afternoon.
The game kicked off and we were underway with some strong carries from both teams saw a bit of an arm wrestle start to show in the first couple of minutes.
The first points would be awarded to Scunthorpe when they were awarded a penalty inside Wheatley Hills half, Reece Clark kicked the ball out and on the oppositions five metre line and with a well routined catch and drive and maul put the defense on the back foot and allowed Harry Wilkinson to flop over the try line, Jack Murray added the extras to make it 7-0.
Scunthorpe continued to add on the pressure to the home team and with that came reward, a kick from Wheatley Hills didn’t make touch and found the hands of Max Dalton who drew his man in and offloaded it to Austyn Stow who put a kick in behind for Finlay ‘Fidge’ Noble who outpaces his opposite number to score in the corner, Jack Muarry adds the extras to make it 14-0.
Scunny would not stop there though as their 3rd try would come soon after, Bobby Henderson showed great awareness to realise that Wheatley Hills have left the ball exposed at the back of the ruck and he managed to gather the ball, after a couple of phases of possession for Scunthorpe the ball went to the backs and Max Dalton ran away to score the 3rd try of the match. Jack Murray again added the extra 2 points to make it 21-0
The away team started to get complacent and the penalty count was going against them, 2 yellow cards in quick succession saw the travelling side down to 13 and the numbers game eventually was too much as a quick penalty saw Wheatley Hills number 13 score in the corner, the conversion was unsuccessful and the score was now 21-5.
However, Scunthorpe would fight back, despite Wheatley Hills having the player advantage, Scunthorpe were still playing their expansive rugby, the ball is offloaded to Fidge who gathers the ball well and dives over for his second fo the match, Conversion was unsuccessful and with that brought half time.
Scunthorpe lead 26-5.
The second half was underway and Wheatley Hills came out stronger, some strong carries from Wheatley Hills forwards put Scunthorpe on the back foot, a simple pass back on the inside saw the home team go over for their second of the day.
Scunthorpe would answer back with some good phases saw them inside of Wheatley Hills 22, Dan Conroy threw a pass that was gathered well by the Fidge who completes his hattrick, conversion was unsuccessful and the score was now 31-12
Another try would come and it would be the forwards with another mauling try, Reece Clark kicks a penalty onto the 5 metre line and the ball was gathered back well, the catch and drive proved too much again and this time Ollie Cutts went over for his first of the match, Jack Murray kicked the conversion over to make it 38-12 to Scunthorpe.
Scunny were not done yet as the ball reached the hands of the backs some great passing by the bck saw Max and Fidge come against the oppositon winger, a simple pass from Dalton saw Fidge go over for his fourth and final try, Jack Murray completed his perfect conversion rate by kicking over yet another conversion to make the final score 45-12 to Scunthorpe Colts.
MOM – Finlay ‘Fidge’ Noble
Match report written by Charley Wilkinson