With several players ruled out with minor injuries, Mowden's coaching staff took the opportunity to include players from the extended squad list, when travelling down the A1(M) and across the M62 to the Brantingham Park HQ of Hull Ionians RFC for the eighth game of the 2025/26 season.

Considering that this game was the fifth on the road for Mowden, where maximum five points have been obtained in each, Mowden’s Director of Rugby Danny Brown can be well pleased with the story so far.

From the opening whistle, it was Mowden who emerged swiftly out of the blocks, with a home crowd stunning opening try by vice-captain centre Liam CHECKSFIELD within the first minute of play, (0 – 5 )with the conversion missed by full back Reuben DYER.

To their credit, Ionians quickly replied with a well taken penalty from fly half James Watts to reduce the deficit. (3 – 5)

After a further five minutes, Mowden’s flanker Dylan THOMPSON fell foul of the referee and Mowden were reduced in number, requiring his side to dig deep.

However, this seemed to galvanise the visitors, who upped their game, adding three further tries before the interval.

Mowden fly half Flynn WARD scored the first of the tries, just short of the end of the first quarter (3 – 10), however, the conversion was again missed.

Scrum half Ben DOUGLAS added another try to his impressive total, with a typical scampering effort (3 – 15), with the conversion this time successful from WARD. (3 – 17)

Ionians fiery scrum half at this time was yellow carded for a technical offence which did little for his team, as with Ionians seemingly under the cosh and unable to create any scoring chances of their own, Mowden’s prop, turned temporary hooker, Harry CHALLENOR barged over for Mowden’s first half try bonus point score (3 – 22), again converted by WARD. (3 – 24).

So it was a beleaguered home side who trudged into the dressing room at oranges, having only a solitary penalty to their total as scant reward for their efforts.

After the break, it was imperative that the home side registered the first score and they were encouraged by a stalemate in the scoring action for almost all of the third quarter, with both teams’ efforts to add to their very different totals coming to nought, despite some close shaves for both.

However, it was Mowden who added to their total when CHALLENOR’S front row colleague and prop Sam CLARK weighed in with a try of his own (3 – 29), adding to the home sides’ woes.

To their huge credit, just when it appeared that the visitors were looking to add to the scoreboard, Ionians mounted a rear-guard riposte, dominating a ten-minute period, during which they scored two good tries. The first from big lock Jamal Khalil (8 – 24), followed by another score from fullback Westleigh Alleyne-Holden, both converted by Watts, reducing the deficit to a more respectable 17 – 29.

Having the better of the game at this stage, Ionians self-imploded when firstly centre Adam Brankley was yellow carded for a technical offence, closely followed by home scrum half Pocklington, who reduced Ionians to 13-men, when red carded for his second yellow card, literally ending Hull Ionians chances.

With the disparity in numbers, Mowden’s final score was inevitable, with Flynn WARD scoring his teams’ sixth and final try at the death, converting his own try, (17 – 36) rewarding Mowden Park with their fifth consecutive away win of the season.

So now, a weeks’ break from league activity is the reward, with a home game against Preston Grasshoppers RFC the next hurdle on resumption of league combat on Saturday 8th November, kick-off 3pm, giving some time for the missing players to recover from any knocks and niggles and the coaches the opportunity of picking from a fully available squad.

MOTM - Joe Craggs