This Saturday we welcome the players, officials and supporters of Hull Ionians to Tynedale Park for the second of our three successive home fixtures. We have a long history of excellent matches against Ionian teams, and we look forward to another exciting contest this weekend. This fixture was originally scheduled for 10th December 2022 but fell fowl of December’s severe frosts.

Hull Ionians have become a bit of a yo-yo side in recent seasons. At the end of 2017-2018 they were relegated from National One into our league only to be promoted back to National One as champions at the first time of asking. Their term in National One was however only a single season and they were relegated back into our league at the end of 2019-2020. Last season they consolidated their stay in National North One, finishing in sixth position, one position but 21 league points above Tynedale.

TYNEDALE v HULL IONIANS
Tynedale played the Hull club, firstly as the old Hull and East Riding team, for 25 years or so, then as Hull Ionians for a further 10 years.
When League rugby was introduced in 1987 Ionians and Tynedale were founder members of North 1 – level 5 rugby. They competed there for thirteen years, until Tyne were promoted in 2000. Hull finished second to Tynedale that 1999/2000 season, and were promoted two years later in 2002.
Until 2018 Tynedale had dominated the League fixtures, winning 12 of the 14 matches played, however, in season 2018/2019 the tide turned.
2018-2019 Tynedale 20 Hull Ionians 50
2018-2019 Hull Ionians 38 Tynedale 29
2021-2022 Hull Ionians 50 Tynedale 14
2021- 2022 Tynedale 18 Hull Ionians 18

So, since 1987 Tynedale have won 12 and Hull Ionians 5 with one draw but certainly Tynedale are no longer a bogey team for Ionians.

2002 - TWENTY YEARS AGO
In late 2002 Tynedale played Hull Ionians three times in 8 weeks, twice at Corbridge on 21st September in a Powergen Cup match, on 19th October in Division Three North and they met again at Brantingham Park on the 9th November. Wow - three matches in 8 weeks.
Tynedale won the Cup match 19-13 and the home match 57-22, but the Ionians got their revenge, winning the final game 30-15. The Hull side must have been glad to see the back of Tynedale for that season, but disappointed when they were relegated to North One at the end of the season. In fact the teams didn’t meet again for three years.

In the 19th October match the teams were:-
TYNEDALE.
J. White; M. Lytollis, B. Hills, P. Boston, A. Moses; P Belgian, E. Holmes; P. Southern, E. Parker, D. Jupp; A. Murray, K. Johnson (Capt); A. Robson, J. Murray, J. Cartmell. Rep. S. Auld, B. Milburn, G. Rastall, A Hopps.
HULL IONIANS
G. Hope; N. Cooper, D. McGee, G. Bone, M. Swift; P. Jones, L. Penna: N. Lyon, B. McDonnell, M. Russell; S. Smith, M. Jones; B. Wade, S. Dykes, K. Bates. Rep. D. Farnsworth, R. Slater, R. Brown, P. Cook.

LAST SEASON
Last season Ionians won comfortably 50-14 in our first away match of the season on 11th September 2021, whilst the return match at Corbridge on 8th January 2022 ended in a 18-18 draw with an Ionians touchline conversion deep into stoppage time snatching victory from the home side.
The Tynedale squad that day was:-
Forwards: White, Johnston, Haigh, Wearmouth, Dunn, Cousin, Stanwix, Blackburn
Backs: Outson, Blackett, Todhunter, Miller, Grant, Pike, Cooke
Replacements: Carmichael, Batey, Hanning, Robson, West

This season’s away fixture with Hull Ionians is scheduled for 15th April.

Hull Ionians have had a strong first 15 league matches winning 11 of their matches played and they sit in third place in the league (we are seventh). They will, however, be very disappointed with last week’s defeat at in-form Huddersfield and will be determined to put things right this week. Another hard game is anticipated and our lads will need to come up with their ‘A-game’.
The Hull Ionians’ league results to date:-
Blaydon 21 Hull Ionians 34
Hull Ionians 27 Rotherham 22
Wharfedale 13 Hull Ionians 20
Hull Ionians 31 Fylde 34
Sedgley Park 18 Hull Ionians 10
Otley 10 Hull Ionians 15
Hull Ionians 58 Huddersfield 17
Sheffield 19 Hull Ionians 26
Hull Ionians 34 Sheffield Tigers 16
Hull Ionians 26 Chester 10
Preston Grasshoppers 20 Hull Ionians 21
Hull Ionians 24 Harrogate 17
Hull Ionians 37 Wharfedale 24
Fylde 22 Hull Ionians 15
Huddersfield 33 Hull Ionians 17

Hull Ionians Website
https://www.hullionians.co.uk/

Officials
Referee: Ben Davis
AR1: Adam Morrison
AR2: Fraser Gill

Ball Boys
Tynedale Under 15’s

Weather Forecast
Light Cloud, moderate westerly breeze, ten degrees

Selected Squad
To be announced