As ever it started with optimism and hope, aiming to improve on last season which ended with us 6th in the table with 64 points, having won 12 and lost 10, scored 614 points and conceded 499. Billingham were promoted with Heath second in the league.

The season began with the longest trip of the season to Alnwick, always a difficult place to visit and come away with a win. After 10 minutes it was looking good, 8-0 up and with an overlap which if the pass had gone to hand would have resulted in an additional 7 points. Unfortunately, the pass went to ground and the home side came back into the game. We had a second half to forget conceding too many penalties and 2 players yellow carded resulting in a narrow 19- 16 defeat.

Was the early season optimism and hope to disappear? Not a bit of it as we went on a run until Christmas of 11 wins including 7 on the trot and only 1 further defeat which was against Heath the only side to whom we lost twice and even then, it was felt that it was a game which we lost as opposed to them winning.

The only game in that run which was close was the away game to Ilkley which was gifted to us in the second half by the home side’s indiscipline conceding 14 penalties and having 2 yellow cards and 1 red. Even then it needed a last-minute penalty to win the game. However, you make your own luck and as we all know winning brings confidence and the ability to win games which in other circumstances would have been lost.

The most satisfying win was probably that against our near neighbours Harrogate relegated last season but looking to bounce back. They are a big side, but we played the better rugby and as the game closed, kept out their big forwards to win the game 28-22.
The year ended with us top of the league with 54 points having scored 367 points and conceded 199. This was through playing good, fast, stylish, attractive to watch rugby with all the players in the side getting their hands on the ball but, and there is always a but, with the sides below having games in hand.

Promotion crept in to the supporter’s conversation, would the run continue, could we keep it going? Unfortunately not and form became patchy not helped by 12 serious injuries in particular to captain Ross White, injured early in the season and Toby Atkin, injured just after Christmas, who brings impetus and momentum to the team.

The new year started with a trip to Doncaster, playing in “the cage” and defeat to a side which we had beaten easily in the home fixture. A very convincing home win against Driffield gave the supporters hope but we were well beaten when we went to Heath the following week. A home win against Ilkley followed before a trip to Harrogate to play on a pitch which resembled a bog on which running rugby was impossible and all credit to the team in achieving a draw against a much bigger side.

A narrow loss against Sandal in blizzard conditions and a bigger loss against Scunthorpe, where we were well beaten followed before a convincing home win against Pontefract.
The last game against Alnwick resulted in a very satisfying 57- 28 win.

So, we end the season 3rd in the league with 76 points as a result of 15 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw. 596 points scored and 385 conceded giving a points difference of 211 only beaten by Harrogate with 213. Without doubt an improvement on last season and our highest ever league position in the history of the club.

Having scented promotion at Christmas the second half of the season was understandably a bit of a letdown. But would we have taken where we ended up, if offered, at the beginning of the season? We suspect that we would especially after the Alnwick game and the number of better resourced teams in the league.

Congratulations to Will Scholey, Ben Mills, Archie Fothergill, Toby Atkin and Harry Shackleton on being selected for the league team of the year and particularly to Will and Toby for making the team for the second season in a row, to George Davies and Toby for clocking up 200 first team appearances and Will Fordy for playing every league game. Credit to Archie in taking over as captain following the season ending injury to Ross and as always leading from the front. Thanks to all the players who have played, to the coaching staff and to all who have played a part, however small, in making the club what it is. The rugby played was in the main very attractive to watch and more importantly for the players, appeared to those on the touch line enjoyable to play.

The review would not be complete with out a big thank you to Lee who has decided to step down as Head Coach. He started his coaching career at York in the 2015 – 16 season and his contribution and the results are plain for all to see. They include 2 promotions taking us to our highest ever league position and the team playing a style of rugby which is attractive to watch and no doubt enjoyed by the players. We hope that we will see you down at Clifton Park next season Lee and best wishes for the future.

Congratulations to Harrogate on their promotion and it is an indication of how much closer the league was this season as opposed to last, that any side could beat another on the day and that they achieved promotion without beating us or indeed Heath who again finished second in the league. We look forward to playing them next season unless the RFU in their wisdom change the leagues again. Watch this space! One of the teams promoted to our league is Selby, who we have not played for a number of seasons. Another local derby to look forward to.

We have enjoyed writing the reports and your comments. We look forward to next season when hopefully we can do even better!
Jonathan Leach
Huw Kane
Carter Croft