For the second of their 3 pool games in the Papa John’s Community Cup, York welcomed Cleckheaton, a team they had beaten twice in the league this season but they are always a difficult side to play with a big pack and strong running backs. In neither game in the league had York beaten them by many points. The weather was fair the sun was out and the ground considering the amount of rain in the past few days was in good condition.

The game was notable for being the last game in which Brian McClure ran the touch. As regular supporters will be well aware Brian has served the club in that capacity for many years, home and away, in all weathers and his performance was as ever exemplary and he continued to surprise those who know him with his athleticism and speed in always keeping up with play. Well done Brian!

York fielded a strong side but their scrum half, York’s biggest try scorer Toby Atkin, was absent and replaced by Alex Riley. Toby together with prop Will Scholey featured in the league’s team of the year as voted for by the coaches of all the clubs in the league. Congratulations to both, their inclusion was well deserved. York welcomed back only 2 weeks after his “retirement “ No 8 Willem Enslin who throughout the game gave 150% and was always at the forefront of York’s forwards in taking and driving the ball and tackling.

York kicked off and immediately took play to the visitors and spent the first 5 minutes in their 22. The pressure resulted in a penalty for a high tackle. Although it was kickable York opted to kick to the corner but were not able to score from the line out. For the remainder of the half apart from one attack by the visitors play took place in Cleckheaton’s half and the majority in their 22 but York were unable to score, chances went begging through handling errors and conceding penalties allowing the visitors to clear their line. York had more opportunities to kick points from penalties but always elected to kick to touch with the intention of taking 7 points and not 3 but all the opportunities were spurned. Cleckheaton to their credit tackled like Trojans helped by York preferring to keep the ball in the forwards and as a result not finding any width and making it easy for the visitors to defend.

On the rare occasions Cleckheaton had the ball they failed to create any chances and like York made handling errors and conceded penalties. They also lost a player to a yellow card just before time. As a result, the game remained level at half time which is most unusual on such a good playing surface. The home supporters were fearful that their team would not rue the forgone opportunities to take the points on offer.

York started the second half as they had the first, receiving the kick and taking play to the visitors. An early line break by the York prop took play to the 22 but as in the first half they conceded a penalty, possession and territory, ending up in their own 22. However the ball was retrieved and York enjoyed further possession but were unable to take advantage and York’s supporter’s worst fears were realised when the ball went lose on the half way line, Cleckheaton’s centre was the first to react and he had an easy run in to score the game’s first try after 10 minutes. The conversion was kicked and the visitors were leading by 7 points even though they only had 14 men on the pitch and had seen little of the ball and spent the majority of the game on the defence.

York went straight back on the attack, further kickable penalties were declined in favour of kicking to the corner but as in the first half they came to nought. However after 20 minutes, pressure eventually told and after many drives by both forwards and backs Willem Enslin crashed over to reduce the deficit to 2 points. After Harry Shackleton kicked the conversion, the points were level at 7 each.

The remainder of the game was spent in Cleckheaton’s half but as in the first, York spurned chances to take the lead through taking the wrong option, handling errors and conceding penalties. Their second try came about from an error by the visitor’s No 10 who rather opportunistically cross kicked in his own 22, putting his wing under pressure who lost the ball which went loose, and wing Avison pounced and scored in the corner. The conversion was missed, and York had a small lead of 12 points to 7 after 33 minutes. From the kick off York took play back to the visitor’s 22 and from a scrum after a good break by the York centre Jonty Atkinson York finally managed to put width on the ball and wing Mike Oldroyd, on his debut, went in at the corner after 35 minutes. Harry Shackleton put over the conversion to take the score to 19-7.

Sensing that there further points available York didn’t play out the game but went on the attack again and after a yellow card to the visitors full back George Davies scored in the corner. The conversion was missed, and the game ended at 24-7.

Regretfully not a game to be remembered for the right reasons. It was very scrappy and disjointed with many stoppages for injuries which didn’t help the game flow.

York’s next game in the competition is on the 22nd away at Sandbach.