After their first win of the season against Sandal York entertained recently relegated Hull hoping to record another victory and move up the table. The visitors had started the season well with 3 victories and looking for automatic promotion.

After the wind and rain of the previous week, it was a glorious autumnal afternoon with no wind, the ground was looking at its best and providing an opportunity for running rugby. The visitors were well supported and with a good home contingent both sides were guaranteed vocal support.

Hull kicked off and immediately took the game to York. Their centres were solid, compact and strong runners and ran at York looking for weakness in defence but it held firm and they conceded a penalty which allowed York to clear but they quickly applied further pressure which needed strong tackling from the home side to keep their line intact.

York were able to come back into the game and a Hull kick was caught by the home side full back Josh Griffin who kicked and on the follow up caught his own kick and ran in from 30 metres to score under the posts. Reece Dean had no problem with the conversion and after 20 minutes the home side were leading 7-0.

From the kick off York knocked on and then conceded a penalty which Hull kicked to the 5 metre line. The catch and drive was well defended and the home side cleared their lines. Hull were soon back on the attack and eventually the pressure told and a try resulted. It was not converted. York’s lead after 26 minutes was 2 points.

From the kick off York spent time in their opponent’s half and pressure resulted in a penalty which York elected to kick which was missed. It was then Hull’s opportunity to add 3 points which they took after 32 minutes.

York were now seeing more of the ball and after several phases of play the away side infringed and Reece Dean slotted over the penalty to put York in the lead again at 10-8 after 35 minutes.

Just as the crowd were thinking of a half time cup of tea York conceded a penalty which Hull kicked to the 22 metre line. The catch and drive was defended but Hull put the ball along the line and a try was scored in the corner. It was converted and after 37 minutes Hull lead 10-15.

York looked to add to their score before half time and after several phases made a half break and knocked on. This allowed Hull to work the ball into the York half and from a ruck the scrum half saw a gap and went through the home defence for an easy try which was converted to take the lead to 10-22 at half time.

What was apparent from the first half was that York could not afford to give an inch in defence against the very direct running from both the visitor’s forwards and backs who were always looking to make ground. Also the visitors kicked out of hand more than most sides and their kick chase was very effective. The view in the stand from the home supporters was that whilst Hull were a very well drilled outfit there was no reason why their side could not come away with a win but to do so they had to score first.

York kicked off and neither side was able to make any impression through a combination of mistakes and good defence. York were however able to score first, a loose kick from Hull was snapped up by Reece Dean on the 10 metre line and he ran in unopposed and added the conversion to take the score to 17-22 after 8 minutes.

York were able to reduce the lead further with another penalty from Reece Dean and at 20-22 after 15 minutes the game was evenly poised. York continued to press and forced mistakes from the visitors when against the run of play the ball went loose at a line out and one of the Hull’s second row ran in from the half way line. It was unconverted but the lead was now 7 points after 22 minutes.

The score seemed to give the visitors a lift and a penalty allowed them to kick to the 22. The catch and drive was defended but when the ball went to the backs the fly half ran a good line and an inside pass to the scrum half allowed him to score under the posts. The conversion was a formality and the deficit was now 14 points.

York were beginning to run out of steam and from the kick off the visitors worked the ball upfield and created an overlap in the back line which resulted in another try.

Another try quickly followed before York were able to take advantage of penalties to kick to the Hull 10 metre line. A catch and drive saw Will Scholey come up with the ball. Reece Dean converted to take the score to 27-44 after 35 minutes.

York worked hard to reduce the deficit but could not breach the visitor’s defence. Hull scored another converted try and a penalty and the score at full time was 27-54

For the neutral an enjoyable game. The score flattered the visitors who on the basis of this performance will be one of the sides likely to be promoted. York worked hard, their scrum and line out worked well but they didn’t have enough of the ball to be able to put consistent pressure on their visitors.

Next week York travel to Scarborough

Match report by Jonathan Leach