For the last league game of the season Clifton Park welcomed Alnwick who had experienced a mixed season. They started the season very badly winning just one of their first 8 games before experiencing a transformation in form winning the next 6 on the trot. As a result they were 5th in the table just below York although 11 points behind. They had only 2 away wins all season and the home supporters hoped they would not make it 3.

It was also the last game for Lewi Jackson before he moves to New Zealand. A product of the junior section he always gives 150%, was the scorer of 7 tries this season and is a joy to watch with ball in hand running at defenders. Hopefully he will enjoy his stay and it will not be long before we see him again.

The weather was sunny with barely a cloud in the sky, the ground as ever in superb condition, a credit to the ground staff and made for running rugby. A large crowd were looking forward to an enjoyable open game. What came as a surprise to all and particularly the visitors who at the end of the game looked decidedly shell shocked and out on their feet was a rampant display by the home side who scored tries at will and amassed a score of 80 points which the old lags in the crowd could not remember occurring for many years.

The first few minutes of the game gave no indication of what was to come with the visitors pressing York but after 5 minutes they stole the ball on the halfway line and a blind side break led to a try by Archie Fothergill converted by Harry Shackleton. 5 minutes later from broken play in the middle of the pitch York put speed merchant, wing A J Peplinski in space on the 10 metre line, he passed his man with ease to score a try which was converted to take the score to 14 – 0.

Alnwick then earned a penalty from the kick off, they kicked to the corner and although the initial catch and drive from the line out was repulsed pressure eventually told and they scored in the corner to take the score to 14 -5. It was not long before York scored again, a break by George Davies in the centre leading to a try by second row Sam Croft which again Harry Shackleton converted from wide out to take the score to 21 – 5 after 15 minutes.
The visitors didn’t help their cause conceding a penalty from the kick off allowing York back on the offensive. A good kick took play to the 22 and a knock on gave Alnwick the put in at the scrum. York showed their domination and drove them off the ball which went to Harry Shackleton who dummied his way to the line to score with ease. The conversion was a formality. The score now 28 – 5 after 21 minutes.

Alnwick’s strength was in the forwards and when York gave away a penalty from the kick off the ball was kicked to the home sides 5 metre line and eventually, they scored a converted try to take the score to 28 – 12 after 25 minutes.

There was still time in the half for further scores by both sides. The first for York came after 31 minutes when at a scrum the York forwards again showed their domination putting their opponents on the back foot and allowing Harry Shackleton the space to slice through the defence from the 10 metre line and score under the posts. The conversion was kicked. The second came 2 minutes later when they stole the ball on the half way line and Shane Goulding ran all the way and it was again converted to take the score to 42 – 12.

There was still time for Alnwick to score again. It came from a penalty which was kicked to the York 5 metre line. Their defence came at the expense of further penalties and eventually the referee lost patience and awarded a penalty try and sent Tom Woffendin to the bin. The half time score was 42 -19.

The talk among the home support was how many points their team would manage to score in the second half or whether the heat would begin to have an effect. The visitors clearly had a stern half time talking to by their coach and started the second half much stronger and put York under pressure but they defended well and it was not long before a break on half way by Lewi Jackson had the crowd on their feet and willing him to go all the way but when he was tackled quick ball and a clever kick saw Tom Woffendin score in the corner after 10 minutes. The conversion was missed.

Further tries quickly followed. The next came 2 minutes later, a break by Shane Goulding who drew the last man and a pass to Toby Atkin saw him score under the posts. It was converted. The next came straight from the kick off and a break in mid field allowed Tom Woffendin to score in the corner and it was converted and a yellow card was issued to Alnwick. The score now 61 – 19 after 14 minutes. With the advantage of the extra man York scored a quick try by AJ Peplinski under the posts which was converted. Alnwick then made light of being a man down and from a York penalty they followed their usual tactic of kicking to the corner and battering the line which eventually resulted in a converted try to take the score to 68 – 26 after 25 minutes.

There was still time for 2 more York tries. The first by AJ Peplinski which was converted after 27 minutes and the second by Shane Goulding who again showed his speed and ran in from the halfway line but the conversion was missed. Alnwick were the last to score to make the final score 80 – 33.

Although the score suggests otherwise Alnwick never gave up, but York were simply too strong in every department particularly the backs. The home sides defence and tackling rarely allowed their visitors to get over the gain line and it put them under pressure, mistakes were made from which York were quick to take advantage.

Hopefully York can repeat their performance in the final of the Yorkshire Cup on the 24th May against Cleckheaton.

Photos : https://www.yorkrufc.co.uk/photos/york-rufc-80-v-alnwick-rfc-33-1136347.html