An impressive away performance in difficult conditions saw York secure a convincing 36–10 victory over Sandal in an important battle at the bottom of the league. Four tries earned the visitors all five points on offer, lifting York four places in the table and providing a timely boost after a difficult start to the season.

On a wet afternoon, York faced the additional challenge of playing uphill and into the wind during the first half. Handling was difficult from the outset and Sandal made the quicker start, taking advantage of an early York offence to kick a penalty and establish a 3–0 lead.
York responded almost immediately. Reece Dean struck an excellent penalty from around 40 metres, against the wind, to level the scores at 3–3.

Despite the conditions, York increasingly controlled the early exchanges. York's growing pressure brought its reward after 17 minutes. Willem Enslin crossed for the visitors' opening try to give York an 8–3 advantage.

Four minutes later, York struck again following one of the best attacking passages of the half. A strong carry from Mulase created the momentum before Dean chipped intelligently behind the Sandal defence. Will Fordy collected to score and Dean converted, extending York's lead to 15–3.

Sandal were far from finished. The home side began to exert sustained pressure and, although unforced errors initially frustrated their attempts to turn possession into points, they eventually broke through for a try. The conversion followed and York's lead was reduced to 15–10.

Importantly, York had the final say before the interval. Another successful Dean penalty took the visitors into half-time 18–10 ahead.

Given that York had spent the opening 40 minutes playing uphill and against the wind in wet conditions, it was a valuable platform from which to attack the second half.

Dean's tactical kicking became an important feature, repeatedly prodding the ball through along the ground and giving the York chase opportunities to put Sandal under pressure.
On 54 minutes York extended their lead. Fordy, already on the scoresheet from the first half, produced a penetrating run through the centres and powered over for his second try of the afternoon.

At 23–10, York had begun to put clear daylight between the sides, and seven minutes later another well-executed kick opened up the Sandal defence.

Dean chipped through and Jamie Tanner gathered the ball close to the line to score York's fourth try. Dean added the conversion and York had moved decisively clear at 30–10.
Sandal continued to compete, but York maintained control of the scoreboard. Dean adding two more penalties to close the game out 36–10.

The final margin reflected a strong away performance built on good decision making and a disciplined performance, everyone in the squad playing their part that enabled York to deal with the conditions before progressively imposing themselves on the game.

Dean contributed significantly on the scoreboard with his goal kicking while also creating opportunities with the boot in open play. Fordy's two tries provided the cutting edge through the centres, while Enslin and Tanner completed York's four-try return. Croft made a nuisance of himself repeatedly stealing Sandal lineout ball. It was his second-row partner Luke Stockton however who was named York’s man of the match as York completed an excellent afternoon's work with a deserved 36–10 victory.

The win provided a well-deserved boost for York’s players and coaching staff and just reward for the commitment and application shown by all involved. One swallow does not a summer make, but York return to Clifton Park next week with renewed optimism to face a stiff challenge from Hull, who arrive following a significant spell in National 2 North and will undoubtedly have something to prove. This season’s league continues to demonstrate that there are no easy games, but York can take confidence and momentum from an excellent afternoon’s work at Sandal.

Match report by Huw Kane.

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