York ran riot as they demolished visitors Wath in one of their best displays for a long time. York elected to play with the cold left to right wind and on 5 minutes produced a rampaging 30m driving maul to the line with Andy Kay claiming the try, George Davis narrowly missing the conversion, 5:0. Wath hit back and worked their way upfield courtesy of York's indiscretions at the breakdown. Jeff Meredith thwarted the attack with a good turnover from which the ball was fed to evergreen Billy Cakaunitabua who broke 50m upfield and earned York the put in at the scrum. This was wasted and Wath cleared downfield only to find Josh Britland on the counter attack back to the 10m from where quick hands put Davis in for the score which he converted, 12:0, 16 minutes played.

Davis was again in the action as he gathered loose ball from the kick off and ran deep into the Wath half, York moved the ball left and right with much improved support and re cycling before Billy found a gap and jinked his way under the posts leaving an easy conversion, 19:0.Not for the first time in this match, Wath came back well and again York conceded too many penalties with Andy Kay receiving a yellow on 25 minutes. From the Wath lineout, York lost Meredith to injury to be replaced by Shane Goulding making his return from hamstring problems. Bartlett the excellent Wath 9, made a blindside break for the line only for Marcus Britland to catch him but receive a rather unlucky yellow himself, leaving York down to 13 men. As the visitors attacked the line, Darren Rutherford secured turnover and fed Eddie Bradshaw on the 10m line who broke strongly upfield and fed support runners Davis and Billy before receiving the final pass to score in the far corner, 24:0, 32 mins.

With Kay restored to action, York again mauled the ball from the lineout forcing a penalty from which they kicked to touch and on the second lineout and drive Will Norris was forced into touch just short. York disrupted the Wath lineout and after good play in the backs, Josh Britland found Kay with an inside pass to score under the posts, 31:0. Wath again showed determination to come back and earned a scrum on the York 5m from which flanker Beardshall crashed over for a deserved try, 31:7. It seemed a long first half but the otherwise excellent referee played on and as Wath again attacked on the York 20m, Chris Fox gathered a dropped ball and set off a forward based counter attack upfield, with JR Hartley, warthog like in his running lines in support, to pass on to Kay and Billy. Who belying their combined 80 years, sprinted for the corner only to be stopped just short. No matter though, as the ball was swiftly fed to Rutherford who barged over for an unconverted try, 36:7, half time.

York rang the changes with Fletcher on for Norris and Rawlings staying on for M. Britland whom the coaches decided to save for next week's game. Wath, now playing with the strongish wind, again applied the pressure and despite excellent defence, eventually found space for centre Melmoth to score near the posts, Jones converted, 36:14 and we wondered if York might struggle this half. Not a bit of it, as York produced 4 tries in a thrilling 15 minute burst. From the kick off, the forwards secured a turnover to release first Goulding and then the backs on attack to earn a scrum on the 10m. After Fletcher had lost the ball under pressure over the line, York secured a lineout on the 20m from where quick ball found Josh Britland who cut inside to score, conversion missed as the wind blew the ball off the tee!, 41:14.

Straight from the kick, the York backs now getting used to having the ball to play with went back to the Wath 10m, from where Goulding cut a great line in off Britland to score, converted by Davis, 48:14. Wath then woke up , and took play back to the York line from where Bartlett, one of the best scrum halves in this league, dummied his way over, 48:19, unconverted due to the wind again having it's way ! Sam Arkle made a good break to within 10m and although Wath cleared to touch, clean lineout ball and swift hands sent Sam Potrykus in on the opposite side, Davis converting a difficult kick, 55:19. Goulding received the restart and charged upfield, popping the ball to the supporting Hartley 20m from the line. As the stand roared for him to score, his little legs just weren't quick enough but he popped the ball to Sam Arkle to finish the job, 60:19. York were now carving holes in the tiring defence and Britland, now showing new found confidence, made another scampering break upfield, only for play to break down with a forward pass. York again turned over ball and good hands put Britland under the posts for his second, 67:19.

The final 10 minutes were played out with no further scoring with most York attacks falling to knock ons and forward passes whilst Wath to their credit did string some phases together and kept York under pressure in their 20m.

In conclusion this was a cracking performance against admittedly weakened opposition but who still contained strong and experienced players. It should be used as a launch pad for forthcoming games against stronger sides, starting next week away at Yarnbury, whom we have now usurped from 3rd place. We cannot however hope to win tight games whilst conceding the amount of penalties and free kicks as we have all season and in this game, I counted 15 at least !

Great performances all round, good to see Nozzer, Rawlings and Goulding back from injury, coaches man of the match went to Billy which was about right. Very well reffed by the visiting official from London who shamefully I cannot name as I've lost my programme.