Hull Ionians………… 30 Chester………………… 19
HULL Ionians‘ strong defence proved the key to victory as they ground out a bonus-point victory over Chester.
The first half contained far too many handling errors by both teams, denying them further scores.
Chester had applied early pressure but no points, allowing Ionians to open their account with a penalty by Lewis Minikin.
Chester replied with Gethin Long running back a deep kick and his chip and chase saw him score, Morgan Bradshaw adding the conversion.
Minikin added a second penalty before a powerful run by George Mewburn took play to the line where Will Yates crossed.
The second half opened with Ionians driving a penalty line-out from the 22 to the line where a collapsed maul saw a penalty try awarded.
Chester sorted out their line-out errors and spent most of the half in the attacking 22 but for 30 minutes could not turn pressure into points.
Ionians created two good attacks in reply, scoring from one after Minikin made ground but was tackled short for Ben Stephenson to dive over.
Chester finally made two breakthroughs, Tom Holloway and Joe Heaton crossing, Morgan converting one.
Ionians had the final say, the pack driving Jack Walker over and Minikin converting.
REFEREE: Dave Charlton
ATTENDANCE: 259
Star player
George Mewburn -Hull Ionians
TEAMS
IONIANS: McDaniel, Celella, Minikin, Britton, Yates, Smith, Pocklington, Morton, Stephenson, Melhuish, Makin, C.Sanderson, Powell, J.Sanderson, Mewburn Replacements: Edwards, Westwood, Walker, Fofie, Burnhill
CHESTER: Long, Heaton, Mc-Minimee, Hamilton, Williams, Bradshaw, Ellis, Furnival, Hanson, Clarke, Powell, Spalding, Wilkinson, Roberts, Jones Replacements: Woods, Cleverley, Graham, Raubitschek, Holloway
