A very close, toughly fought Cup tie

Team: Harry Bowes, Scott Benson, Jordan Fenton, Joseph Rodgers-Lang, Ben Markham, James Lawson, Reece Clarke (c), Ryan Dearing, Jamie Shaw, Jordan Carter, Matty Blanchard, Josh Moffatt, Calvin Gibson.

Subs: William Hutchinson, Lucas Hutchinson, Lewis Brown, James Holdstock, Matthew Smith, Jacob Hodgson, Rhys Purcheon.

With a semi-final place at stake, it was all to play for on a nice dry day with a good firm pitch.

Cottingham kicked off to Wyke, Jamie Shaw returning the ball well. Forwards working well to take us into Cottingham's half and the ball moved well across the park to the left wing to allow Ben Markham, on his full debut, to have a run at the Cottingham defence.

Jordan Fenton showed his usual strong defence in the next set keeping our edge defence tight. Penalties for stripping and high tackles allow Wyke to move deep into the Cottingham half, Josh Moffatt with a couple of good drives, Harry moves the ball left offloading to Ryan who passes to Joseph Rodgers-Lang who loses the ball with the line beckoning.

Cottingham break down our left, Ryan Dearing comes in with a great crunching tackle on the next play, Cottingham apply more pressure and force a drop out on the last tackle, and Jordan Carter comes up with a crucial one on one strip in the next set. Harry Bowes scoots away down the touchline but is tackled out into touch.

Another well worked set by Cottingham makes Wyke concede a second drop out and the pressure finally tells as Cottingham open the scoring, despite strong Wyke defence lead by half backs Reece Clarke and James Lawson, who had held up the previous drive. Try converted for a 6 point lead.

After a penalty for reefing, Cottingham again play deep in Wyke’s half and another good kick bobbles in Wyke’s in-goal and forces Harry to kick dead for the third drop out of the game. Looking inevitable that Cottingham will extend their lead, Wyke’s luck changes as Cottingham are penalised for crossing.

Rhys Purcheon makes good ground up the middle but a poor play the ball means a knock on and the pressure is on again. Wyke finally get a penalty for the ball being stripped in the tackle and have a chance to attack the Cottingham line, despite two further attempts at ball strips. Ben Markham makes a weaving run and head in field towards the post and with Wyke in a great position to score, the half time whistle thwarts us.

HALF TIME: Hull Wyke 0, Cottingham Tigers 6

Wyke start the second half with a deep kick, hoping to carry on the good form from the first half. A good end of set high kick makes Cottingham knock on, Wyke set up the play from the scrum and field position allows Ryan Dearing to steam onto the ball and crash over the line for a classic prop’s try. Harry Bowes converts to make the score all level.

Josh Moffatt runs 40 metres from the kick off and Wyke have a chance to take the lead, but the ball goes back down the short side and Ryan is tackled into touch. Rhys Purcheon strips the ball on the third tackle, one on one, but the referee awards Cottingham a very dubious penalty.

Cottingham again kick well on the fifth and recover the kick near the stick, pass out wide to the left allows the winger to go in at the corner despite a valiant effort from Lucas Hutchinson. Try unconverted means Cottingham have a 4 point lead.

James Lawson having a storming game in defence down the middle seemingly has a hand in every tackle. Wyke knock on coming out our half. More excellent defence from James Lawson aided by Reece Clarke again, Lewis Brown and William Hutchinson, who also recovers Cottingham’s next kick and makes a good 20 metres with the return.

Wyke finish the set with a high kick, regain possession but are tackled on the last for a handover. Cottingham come out of their own half again and find the kick, Harry returns it but is deemed to have knocked on in the tackle as Cottingham try dragging him into touch.

Another Wyke drop out as back to back penalties see us penned on our own line, Cottingham opting to take a kick at goal but the kick goes wide, one final flurry from Cottingham but the final whistle blows.

In reflection a game that could of easily gone either way, but Cottingham’s superior set completion was the telling factor and the difference in the end. Wyke can take heart from a great defensive effort from all the players and our attacking options and choice of plays are testament to the effort put in at the training ground.

FINAL SCORE: Hull Wyke 6, Cottingham Tigers 10

MOTM for Hull Wyke – James Lawson

Try Scorers: Ryan Dearing

Goals: Harry Bowes (1)