York vs Old Brodleians (Home)

Good turnout from the lads, with some 17 players arriving for warm-up and training (including a miraculous recovery from Alex). The excellent turnout gave the Coaches the opportunity to try out a range of combinations on the field, with most players swapping around at half-time.

The first game stated with good pace from both sides (the last time these 2 sides met was in the Nottingham Festival when they drew a try apiece). York are usually somewhat reticent to make it easy for themselves in the first match of the day, preferring to come from behind and finish strongly. However, in the fine late summer weather they dispensed with tradition and played strongly from the off; by half-time York were 10-5 up, with two fine running tries from Barney, and then a good response from Old Brods. The second half started with Old Brods picking up where they had left off and equalising with another great try to draw level. York now stepped it up a gear, with better control in the scrum allowing a more expansive game; Oliver and Josh put two tries over to pull York ahead to 20-10, with Oliver then passing the try line again to make it 25-10. A fine game was completed by Pari “The Rocket” making one of his classic half-pitch runs to bring the final score to 30-10.

Taking advantage of the continuing fine weather and the good turnout by the lads from both teams, a second game was played. Rather curiously this started in similar fashion with Barney again running two great tries in to take the score quickly to 10-0. By now the York forwards were getting a good control of the scrum, and pushing in a co-ordinated fashion. Joseph made the score 15-0 with a great try into the corner, and Toby H also scored a fine try to make the half-time score 20-0 to York. Oliver started off the second half as he had done in the first game with another powerful run to make it 25-0; and then decided to repeat the effort with another (30-0). The ever reliable Steele took the ball from a penalty restart and made good use of it to take York into a 35-0 lead. Toby P capped a strong game with a try (40-0), and following some terrific interplay passing by Steele and Oliver, Oliver scored his 5th of the day (45-0). An excellent day of teamwork by York was completed by the indomitable Pari again covering 50m at speed to put down and make it 50-0.

Good spirit and teamwork shown by both sides at this early stage of the Season.