Barnsley 35 v 22 York

It was deja vu for York away at newly promoted Barnsley on the opening day of the season. For in the corresponding fixture last season York went down tamely at newly promoted Pocklington. For the disappointed travelling York support, I am afraid it was more of the same.
York started the game brightly but poor handling and execution together with an excessive penalty count allowed Barnsley to get a foothold in the game by utilising their large forwards and a well organised catch and drive at the lineout.
It was on 7 minutes that the first catch and drive from the Barnsley pack took place on the York 5 metre line, this was held in goal. From the resultant 5 metre attacking scrum the Barnsley No8 Reed who impressed all day picked up and attacked the blindside catching the York defence napping before offloading to Francis his scrum half to score unopposed. Conversion missed. 5 – 0.
From the restart York regained possession but Ben Johnson (fly half) got isolated after taking on the Barnsley defence and is penalised for holding on. Barnsley receiving a relieving penalty. This was a pattern to be repeated throughout the game which ultimately would cost York any chance of imposing themselves upon it. On 12 minutes Andy Fraser (tight head prop) was perhaps unfortunate as the third man in the tackle area to be penalised in front of his own posts for failing to release in the tackle. Barnsley converted 8 – 0.
It was 24 minutes into the game before the referee awarded a penalty against Barnsley in that period York had conceded 7. Ben Johnson duly obliged from near 40 metres out 8 – 3. For the next ten minutes York looked like that they are starting to go through the gears but even when they forced good field position they would help Barnsley relieve their own pressure by unforced handling errors or very poor lineout play and execution.
On 32 minutes York put together their only error free period of rugby in the first half and after first stretching the scrambling Barnsley defence with quick handling Billy Cakaunitabua on the right wing was hauled down 5 metres from the line with support runners on his inside, fortunately this miss was not costly as quick ruck ball allowed Tom Boyle to engage the defence before finding Ben Johnson on a good running line who scored under the posts. He converted his own try. And York took lead for the only time in the game. 8 – 10.
No sooner did York look like they had woken up and got themselves into the game they immediately put themselves back under pressure as they failed to deal with the restart properly. The ball bouncing around deep in the York 22 before a hurried clearance gifted Barnsley a lineout 10 yards from the York line. No surprises then when the catch and drive was set at the tail and inevitably rumbled towards the York line before being stopped just short. Barnsley moved the ball wide and an excellent double miss pass by Appleyard the Barnsley fly half found Smith on the right wing out flanking the York defence to score unopposed. Converted 15 – 10. This was the half time score.
You hoped as a York supporter that the lessons from the first half had been learnt, but life is never that simple. I am afraid it was more of the same in the second half but probably worst. York again make a hash of the restart and are lucky to get away with a 22 drop out when Ben Johnsons attempted clearing kick was charged down 10 metres from his own line. Dave Kerr the York hooker being the first to react and touch the ball down and save the fly half’s blushes.
Further errors at the lineout and handling in the back line resulted in a penalty to Barnsley 40 metres out which was converted 18 – 10. From the restart Barnsley put along deep kick into the York 22 which Cakaunitabua failed to effectively deal with. The resultant Barnsley lineout was followed by a mid-field move which was read by Sam Portrykus who smashed his opposite number in the centre with a crunching tackle. The tackle was penalised much to the bewilderment of the York contingent. Barnsley greatly received the refereeing gift and converted it to lead 21-10.
On 60 minutes York gifted the Barnsley fly half Appleyard the freedom of the park as after another York handling error on their own 22 metre line, he ran through the non-existent York defence to score under the posts . Converted 28 – 10.
York only really had three or four passages of play in the whole game that were error free and they scored 3 tries from them. The second try came after a wayward Barnsley kick was gathered by Atkinson who passed to Cakaunitabua who made a great break up the midfield before finding Hamilton who carried the ball strongly. Quick recycled ball saw Rossington combine with Portrykus on the short side to score. Conversion missed. 28 – 15.
Another York handling error on their own 22 saw Barnsley gather for the hand of Jehovah to part the York defence and allow Appleyard free passage to York try line under the posts. Converted 35- 15.
York to their credit didn’t stop trying and would finish the game with a flourish after a number of penalties being conceded by the tiring Barnsley side who perhaps knew they had done enough. Cakaunitabua crossed with the last play of the game with Johnson converting. 35 – 22 final score.
So it’s back to the drawing board for Messer’s Bass and Clegg who have some work to do with all aspects of the York performance. The lineout I would suggest needs immediate attention after only securing possession at two of them in the whole game, this together with team discipline in and around the breakdown area. The handling errors that littered this York performance will improve as we do have some quality individuals in the side. The York players do need to individually and collectively, put their hands up for this weeks performance, then move on, because quite frankly, it just wasn’t good enough.

Steve Maud