Preston Grasshoppers got the season off to a winning start after an enthralling contest at Lightfoot Green. An inspired performance from replacement Alex Zavallis-Roebuck helped the Hoppers to a 30-29 victory over Hull Ionians that had looked in doubt right up to the end.
Ionians made an impressive start to the game and kicked well into both corners early on, but where unable to capitalize when Fly Half Joseph Wright sent his opening kick wide. Once able to clear their lines Hoppers started to get themselves into the game and took the lead after 6 minutes. Mark Edwards intercepted an Ionians attack inside his own half and started a Hoppers counter, Full Back Owen McKenna broke through the line with a great break but was hauled down inside the 22, the resulting ruck incurred the wrath of the referee who sent Ionians flanker Mark Wigham to the bin. Hoppers kicked to the corner and won a scrum on the 5m line which Number 8 Dominic Moon picked up from the base and powered over through the would be tackles. Mark Edwards was successful with the conversion.
Hoppers had chances to increase their lead with the man advantage but were unable to do so and Ionians pulled level through Danny Smith. The full back returned a kick into Hoppers territory and was first to the ball, he hacked on and weighted his kick perfectly as it came to rest between the posts, and Wright added the extra to draw the side’s level. It was a kick of a different kind that helped give Ionians the lead, after being awarded a penalty for a scrum infringement Wright struck the resulting kick against the uprights, Tim Mennell was quickest to react and the Ionians were able to move around the breakdown well with Chris Starling touching down from close range, Wright duly converted.
After the break Ionians extended their lead with a well struck penalty to take them to a 17-7 advantage but Hoppers began to dominate and brought themselves back into the contest. Dominic Moon kicked well into the corner and when the ball did not find touch Ionians Full Back Smith tried to beat the chasing players but was unable and trapped behind his try line. The resulting scrum was solid and moved out into the backs where Russell Flynn picked a good line off Edwards, he was stopped just short but Moon picked up and drove over to score his second. Hoppers took the lead as a result of another scrum, this time however from further out. With the ball on the 10m line Hoppers moved the ball into the midfield allowing Steffen Thomas to smash through the Ionians defence, his subtle pass was collected by centre partner Tom Hughes, whose excellent line cut through to the line and showed great strength to power through the final tackle and stretch out for the score.
Hoppers then started to self destruct, starting with the sin binning of Moon for an illegal tackle. Ionians kicked to the corner and the resulting catch and drive saw Danny Hague score. It was then Hague’s time to turn provider as he picked up from the base of a scrum 40 yards out and sprinted down the blind side before off loading to scrum half Adam Thomas who scored in the corner, after failing with the first chance Wright stepped up to land a difficult kick form the right touchline giving Ionians a ten point lead. Wright could have added to his tally but was unsuccessful from distance, as was replacement Iain Gordon.
Entering the last ten minutes Hoppers introduce Zavallis-Roebuck, whose first major contribution was a penalty kick which he stepped up and confidently drilled over to reduce the deficit to 7 points. Minutes later and Hoppers started to pile on the pressure sensing that the game was there to be won, after good ball retention from the forwards Zavallis-Roebuck kicked behind the Ionians defence and was able to collect the ball making his way unchallenged to score, however the conversion was charged down much to the dismay of the home fans but not illegally to the officials.
Hoppers could easily have crumpled after such a disappointment but it only seemed to galvanise the home side. The kick off was taken cleanly and moved into the midfield and when it was released to the backs they set off with the move of the match, starting inside the Hoppers half a move down the right touchline involving Steffan Thomas, Tom Hughes, Tom Ball and Owen McKenna took them into the Ionians 22 and resulted in a penalty which Zavallis-Roebuck slotted through the uprights to snatch an unlikely victory.
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