The home pack had the edge in the tight and, individually, had the sharper backs but failed to find any fluency. Ionians took advantage of plenty of turnover ball to go 6 points up with two penalties from Birch within 8 minutes but Hoppers responded 6 minutes later when a break from Olly Viney saw Owen McKenna, sprint 60 metres to score an unconverted try. Hoppers seemed to have settled down when, on 20 minutes, a strong forward drive was rounded off when Viney put Andy Barnett in at the posts and Paul Bailey converted. But Hoppers then inexplicably surrendered the initiative and indifferent defence let in flanker Wilson and centre Bone for tries to put Ionians 16-12 up at the break. The visitors increased their lead with a third penalty from Birch and after 59 minutes disaster struck when Bailey’s clearance was charged down giving Kench the easiest of touchdowns to put his side 24-12 ahead. Bailey reduced the deficit after 61 minutes with a penalty and a fine individual try from Viney put Hoppers in reach but a final last onslaught failed to produce a winning score. - Hoppers lead at the top is reduced to just 2 points and this Saturday they travel to Derby for a first round tie in the National Trophy.
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