Rugby Union: Sheer Hull for Jones as side falls to bogey men

Oct 3 2007 by Ron Roby, Liverpool Daily Post

WEST PARK left the field last Saturday in no mood to concede that the better side had won.

They had had much the better of their National Three encounter against Hull Ionians and in the end came away with only a losing bonus point.

“I just do not know what worked against us other than to consider Hull Ionians as a real bogey team,” coach Martin Jones said.

“They have managed to beat us at Red Rocks on three visits now and we lost to them at their place last season which still hurts

“On Saturday when we were comfortably in front and had scored some good tries, we were anticipating picking up a winning bonus and nothing else.”

Jones and his side’s dreams were certainly dashed in the last quarter when the visitors were credited with a pushover try in stoppage time that snatched the lead.

It proved vital in the end when top kicker Andy Soutar might have so easily reversed the result had his penalty attempt with the last kick of the game gone through the posts.

This coming weekend West Park have every chance to bounce back though a long journey to newcomers Beverley will not be easy.

The Yorkshire side are taking time to settle down in their new league and with Park almost at full strength apart from Dave Westhead, the Merseysiders should be confident.

Big lock forward Westhead is out for a while and will be having an operation this week on his thumb which he injured over at Morley.