York spluttered like a misfiring engine into the next round of the Yorkshire Cup 36 points to 12, ultimately showing too much power for a lively and courageous Pontefract to contend with. “Build it and they will come”, and come they did with a crowd of over 300 attracted to the oasis of green that was Clifton Park on Friday night, the immaculate pitch illuminated by a pool of light in a starless black sky that focused your attention on the spectacle about to unfold.

After a frustrating game last weekend, York were keen to get back to winning ways with a much changed back line that looked to have better balance with Dickinson and Atkinson on the wings and Forbes and Rae in the centre. Mills played at seven, Simpson being rested, with Consterdine starting at hooker. Pontefract have had a mixed start to their league season in Regional 2 North East but are keen to return to level 5 and brought their usual energy and commitment not to mention some good pace, well-structured running and accurate handling which was to prove challenging to defend at times.

It was Pontefract that had the better of the early exchanges with Gilbert bringing out the best of Burlingham’s defensive ability as he threatened down the right-hand side; Burlingham managing to create doubt in Gilbert’s mind before tackling him as he cut inside rather than back his pace. Pontefract opened the scoring with a beautifully worked try. The Pontefract pack, under pressure from a dominant York scrum all evening, managed to release controlled ball that eventually was moved to the left. Abbott looped, Gilbert came in from the right and together they loaded the attack, Gilbert running at the gap between centre and wing with pace before drawing Dickinson and feeding Copley who crossed in the left corner. York 0, Pontefract 5.

Dominant in the scrum, York continued to struggle in the line out. Their phase ball was slow and they played in fits and starts with some strong carrying up front but struggling to create any structured threat in the back line where they were often under pressure from the Pontefract defence or their own mistakes. However, their commitment was a step up from the previous week and they gradually started to subdue Pontefract. Shackleton opened the York account with a neat penalty after Atkinson had been held out on the left, Mr Higgins coming back for the advantage. York immediately returned, with Jackson held up over the line. Pontefract dropped out from the goal line. Du Boulay collected somewhere around the 10m line before picking his gap in what looked an uncharacteristically porous defence and accelerating through it to score under the posts almost untouched. The conversion by Shackleton took York into a 10-5 lead.

The highlight of the first half was Jackson’s try which had the home crowd on its feet. Jackson is a big man with athletic ability and deceptively fast feet over 22m. Bursting through two groups of tacklers after collecting the ball on the 22m line he continued Route 1, legs pumping, like a raging bull carrying four defenders on his back to crash over the line to the right of the posts. Shortly after, Du Boulay crossed for his second just before the whistle ended the half; York 22, Pontefract 5.

Pontefract resumed the second half determined to get back into the game and after only five minutes had closed the gap to 22 points to 12 scrambling the ball over the line from a messy maul converted by Copley. Their elation was short lived as the York forwards mounted another attack, Stockton firing himself across the line like an Exocet from a full 40m to score wide on the left. Shackleton had his kicking boots on, slotting the conversion to take the lead to 29 points to 12.

Playing under the lights is an interesting experience. No matter how good the lights are, when the ball is kicked above them, chaos reigns down with the ball when it returns to the ground. It was then, arguably a good tactic from Shackleton or damn right mean when he started launching his spiral bombs high into the black sky, creating mayhem in the receiving side as they struggled to pick up the flight of the ball once visible again. Scholey too seemed to be enjoying his evening in the scrum though I doubt his opponent would have the same view, particularly when he introduced him to the night sky as he was being shunted backwards.

Pontefract never say die and this game was no exception. They continued to ask questions in the three-quarters, moving the ball well and retaining possession for several phases but couldn’t ultimately get across the line. Ketteridge looked particularly dangerous on the left wing showing good pace and an ability to step, though on one occasion this was right into Ross White’s shoulder that hit him in the solar plexus in a text book tackle that left him rolling on the ground for a couple of minutes.

A yellow card for Copley for slapping the ball away after the whistle broke any momentum Pontefract were building and York maintained pressure to the end. Burlingham showed some nice skills in attack rounding his man before delicately chipping over the defence, not quite able to recover the ball but winning good field position. A high tackle on Rae resulted in a penalty to York and a line out in the corner to set Jackson up for his second try. If anyone thought his first was a fluke, he proved it wasn’t as he went on another barnstorming run from dummy fly half position that took him, the ball and several defenders over the line again. Final score York 36, Pontefract 12.

York: Burlingham, Atkinson, Forbes, Rae, Shackleton, Atkin, Jackson, Consterdine, Scholey, Croft, Stockton, Du Boulay, Mills, Goulding. Rep: Westaby, Reed, Petty, White, Allison.
Pontefract: Copley, Gilbert, Cooke, Coleman, Ketteridge, Abbott, Wollaston, Anderson, Potts, Smith, Matthews, Simpson, Nyanjowa, Dedicoat, Thornton. Rep: Jex, Beddis, Webley.
Referee: Mr Matthew Higgins