York travelled north to Blaydon, a side whom they had beaten in the home fixture 31-14 earlier in the season but had shown a good run of form before Christmas and as a result had amassed 55 points to York’s 24. Their form since then had dipped losing all 3 games in 2026. York were hoping to continue their run of form to enable them to move further up the table and ease the prospect of relegation.

Despite the rain earlier in the week as Blaydon play on an artificial surface the game was always going to be on. The weather was fine and sunny. Considering the distance York brought a commendable number of spectators .

Mention must be made of Toby Atkin who was playing his 250th match for York and to Willem Enslin who was playing his 100th. Congratulations to them both.

York kicked off but quickly conceded a penalty which the hosts kicked to the York’s 22. A well executed catch and drive from the line out resulted in a try in the corner which was not converted. York 5 points down after only 2 minutes. Not the start that the visiting side had hoped for.

From the kick off York quickly earned a scrum from which they earned a penalty and kicked to their opponent’s 22. The line out was lost allowing Blaydon to clear and play was soon back on the York line, but a penalty was conceded and York kicked to the halfway line. From the line out the ball was worked down the blind side and inter passing allowed Toby to score in the corner. A great way to celebrate his 250th game. The difficult conversion was missed. After 15 minutes the score was tied at 5 all.

The next 15 minutes was spent in the York half as they could not get hold of the ball and they had to defend, on occasions desperately to keep the home side out. Eventually the pressure told and the home side scored a try which they converted. The score now 12-5 after 27 minutes.

From the kick off York conceded another penalty which was kicked to the 22 but York were able to defend. Again they could not get hold of the ball and conceded 3 penalties all of which were kickable but the home side elected to kick to the corner and look to score a try from a catch and drive from the line out. York however were able to keep their line intact
Eventually York managed to clear to the half way line where a fracas broke out and the Blaydon number 8 was shown a yellow card. York managed to take advantage and just before the half time whistle Henry du Boulay went over in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed. The score now 12-10 which considering the time spent in the York half and 22 and how little ball they had had was a testament to their defending helped by the home sides poor decision making.

The York supporters knew that if their side was to come away with a win they would have to play a lot better. They gave away too many penalties, the up-front tackling had to improve and the line out was not functioning. However the game was there to be won and when York had been able to stretch the ball wide the home side looked vulnerable.

York began the second enjoying a lot more of the ball and were able to take the ball to Blaydon and were soon in their 22 but poor control meant the position was lost and it was not long before York were on the defence. However they were able to force a penalty and work their way up field. After 7 minutes they had a kickable penalty but unfortunately it went wide. However, they kept up the pressure and forced the home side to defend but lost the line out and Blaydon were able to clear. It was then the home sides turn to attack but a loose pass was snapped up by Adam Quinn and he sprinted the length of the pitch to score under the post. The conversion was a formality for Harry Shackleton and for the first time in the game York were ahead 12-17 after 17 minutes.

The lead unfortunately was short lived, a break in midfield and the home side’s full back who had been a strong runner all game touched down in the corner. The try was converted and after 20 minutes the score was 19-17. It was vital York didn’t concede again.

The next 10 minutes was spent in the home side’s half with York spending time on the ball and putting them under pressure. This eventually told and Henry Du Boulay went in for his second after 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the conversion came off the post. The score now 19-22.

The visiting supporters knew the game was on a knife edge and could go either way. The home side tried desperately to force the win but strong defence kept them out and there was no change to the score before the final whistle.

It was a game of two halves in that in the first York had very little possession but were able to score on both the occasions they were in the home side’s 22 to keep the game alive at half time. In the second they had much more of the ball and territory, kept their nerve when they lost the lead and again took their chances when they came. They were the deserved winners.

Results elsewhere mean that York move out of the bottom 3 and improve their prospects of avoiding relegation.

The next game is in 2 weeks, a home game against Cleckheaton who currently prop up the league table.