On Saturday April 15th 1978, York RUFC faced Old Hymerians RUFC in the final of the Yorkshire Shield. The game was played at the neutral ground of Selby RUFC. Playing for ‘Hymers’ at loose head prop was a certain Dave Heron. Some of you may remember Dave doing some coaching at Clifton Park when Peter Clegg was on holiday in about 2014. Some of you may also know that Dave is the father-in-law of current York player Sam Potrykus!!

Dave came across the match report and programme while having a ‘spring clean’ and consequently sent it to Sam. The match report appeared in a local (to ‘Hymers’) newspaper – possibly the Hull Daily Mail.

Another link in the match was the inclusion at lock for ‘Hymers’ of C Mackay. Chas is the father of another York player, Rich Mackay!
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Old Hymerians RUFC 16 v York RUFC 3

A superb performance by the forwards and spectacular tris by McDonald and Greenfield earned Old Hymerians the Yorkshire RU Shield for the first time in their history when they beat York at Selby on Saturday.

York took the lead after only 2 minutes when Foot kicked a penalty for obstruction in the line-out and Hymerians had to hold off strong York pressure.
In the first scrum, however, they established dominance over the heavier York eight and this edge in set pieces repeatedly drove York back.

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Webster levelled the scores with a 35 yard penalty and with Bone and Vickerman* breaking up York’s attempts to bring their backs into the game, Hymerians’ more mobile forwards pin-pointed the hesitancy there was in York’s defence.
It was from a typically forceful break by Dunney that Hymerians’ forwards opened the way for a slick threequarter move which sent McDonald racing 30 yards to the corner.
York battled grimly to hold determined Hymerians’ pressure early in the second half and, just when it looked as though they had weathered the storm, Webster landed a penalty.
For a brief spell, York moved into Hymerians’ territory, but there was little evidence from them that they could cross the line, which Hymerians have kept intact throughout the Shield campaign.

Fifteen minutes from time, a diagonal kick from Dunney looked to be flying into touch, but as York’s winger hesitated, Greenfield darted in and snatched the ball from under his nose and burst through the full-back’s tackle to go over at the posts.
Webster’s conversion put the final nail in York’s coffin and set the seal on a fine, all round team performance.

Teams:
York RUFC
1. J Hayes, 2. P Atkinson, 3. R Yoward, 4. A Robertshaw, 5. P Robertshaw, 6. A Todd,
7. M Haw, 8. R McBride (Capt), 9. I Frame, 10. M Hawtry, 11. M Rigby, 12. T Foot,
13. N Elliot, 14. D Farrant, 15. A Roberts, Replacements: 16. D Glover, 17. T Potter

Old Hymerians RUFC
1. D Heron, 2. B Eyre, 3. S Pettinger, 4. G Green, 5. C Mackay, 6. R Baty, 7. B Wilkie,
8. P Wildsmith, 9. A Lund, 10. J Dunney, 11. K Greenfield, 12. S Bone, 13. N Vickerman*,
14. N McDonald, 15. G Wester, Replacements: 16. R Gore, 17. D Hussey

(* Father of Rob Vickerman who later played for Leeds Carnegie, Newcastle Falcons and England 7’s and is now a TV and Radio pundit.)

The accompanying picture shows Dave (with moustache) tussling with Allan Robertshaw.

Many thanks to Dave for sending this to Sam, but please don’t look too closely in other cupboards unless you come across a report of a York victory!