The Scarborough match programme used the word “Juggernaut” to describe York’s progress this season and indeed after 80 well fought minutes, it simply rolls on! With 15 out of 15 league wins there is now a significant gap before the following pack. However, easy it was not!
Before a very good sized crowd, with York well represented, on a cold, grey day with a strong breeze blowing straight down the pitch, York kicked off into the wind and quickly gave territory as they committed several infringements on the ground which, after only 3 minutes, saw Scarborough’s No 10 Harrison convert yet another penalty to give the home side a deserved lead. (3-0).
There followed a rather messy period of play with Scarborough pressing territorially but meeting stern resistance and York were just beginning to right the ship when a further penalty saw Maud sinbinned and Harrison again converted (6-0)
With one man down, York actually began to exert their forward strength, and with more ball the territorial balance switched significantly. Dawes made a searing break taking play well into the home territory and saw Scarborough penalised, which although Dawes himself missed the kick, the pressure was on the home side. When York full back Davies gathered a scrambled Scarborough clearance and led the drive forward, the home side were again penalised in front of their posts and Dawes duly converted (6-3.)
However York were again penalised for an offside offence and a disappointing half finished with Harrison again converting. (9-3)
Whatever coach Denham said during the interval, York came out for the second half with all guns firing. After only 5 mins, Scarborough were penalised and scrum half Atkin, with a typically sniping run, led the charge towards the home line. From the ensuing scrum, Toby Atkin once again darted over for the first York try, which Dawes converted. (9-10). Now York were dominant and with the back row driving forward powerfully, the pressure on the home defence was increasing by the minute. Infringement after infringement saw Scarborough lucky to keep 15 men on the field, but it couldn’t continue and eventually No 8 Goulding powered over for a try under the posts which again Dawes converted. (9-17). Scarborough did not see the York half during the 3rd quarter, such was the territorial imbalance.
The York pack, with Johnson to the fore, had totally gained the upper hand, but the referee was very sharp on scrummage defaults and this tended to interrupt York’s progress. This, and other silly infringements, meant that the game although seemingly won, entered the last 5 minutes with Scarborough still alive. The home side suddenly sprang to life and after some good running by their backs they scored a well-deserved try through Ben Martin. The conversion was missed (14-17). With nerves jangling York played out the last minute in Scarborough territory before the final whistle signalled much cheering from the travelling York fans but unfortunately some unpleasant jeering from others.
Team – Rutherford,Bowers,Johnson,Fox,Stockton,Maud,Parker,Goulding,Atkin T,Hessay,Hodges, Dawes, Forbes,Singleton,Davies
Subs – Coe,Hannibal,Atkin W
photos : http://www.yorkrufc.co.uk/photos/scarborough-v-york-13th-january-2018-792947.html