Barnsley hosted York in the second round of this year’s Yorkshire Shield yesterday. They are currently 9th in Yorkshire 2.
York named a strong side, captained by Chris Fox, with Sam Potrykus and Tom Newitt in the centres and ex-Colt Adam Penistone at fly-half. Shane Goulding played at number 8.

The weather was bright sunshine and there were autumn colours in the tree leaves. Shaw Lane, Barnsley’s ground, was well presented. It has two modern stands; there was no breeze and the pitch was in good condition. Both sides showed commitment to the fixture and the competition as the game started. This commitment was maintained throughout.

York scored after five minutes. They had a penalty close to the Barnsley line; chose a scrum, transitioned into two tight rucks then Lewis Hannibal was supported by Chris Fox to surge forward and score. George Davies kicked the conversion. 0 – 7.Barnsley replied five minutes later, Callum Emery kicked a penalty from forty metres out; 3 – 7. Barnsley’s full back, Andrew Appleyard, was kicking well from hand, gaining Barnsley ground. Gareth Singleton was playing for York on the wing, instead of the centre where he has often been playing this season. He scored the next points finding some space and running ten metres to score in the corner. Davies kicked the conversion. 3 – 14. Barnsley didn’t give up though and they continued to compete and could have scored mid-way through the first half, but the ball was knocked on one metre away from York’s try-line. Field position was reversed through balanced York possession. York showed strong set pieces, a disciplined structure and committed running from both the forwards and the backs. Barnsley passed the ball forward when trying to clear from their try-line. From the scrum, York pushed forward the necessary five metres for Shane Goulding to score. The try was unconverted. 3 – 19. Shortly after the York try, Barnsley scored their own. The ball bounced into the path of a running Mark Fisher who was able to run in under the posts. Callum Emery converted. 10 – 19. York re-established a three score lead soon after the re-start. A line out twelve metres out, a driving maul and Shane Goulding got his second try. Intelligently, York drove the ball in-field from the line-out. Davies converted. 10 – 26. Just before half-time, a line-out was overthrown, Barnsley dropped on the ball within the York 22 and a long pass put Tom Parker in at the corner. The conversion was missed. Half time, Barnsley 15 York 26.

Barnsley centre, Mark Fisher, was sin-binned twelve minutes into the second half. Soon after, York were awarded a line-out ten metres from the Barnsley line. Chris Fox collected the ball, Lewis Hannibal drove forward, Matt Hargreaves fed Adam Penistone and he ran through a gap in the Barnsley defence to score next to the posts. Davies converted. 15 – 33.Barnsley still had Mark Fisher in the sin-bin when York were awarded a scrum twenty two metres out. The York scrum was dominant; the ball was released to George Davies on a large blind-side. He beat the Barnsley defender for pace on the defender’s outside and scored five metres in from the touch-line. He missed the conversion. 15 – 38.With a quarter of the game remaining, Tom Newitt received the ball in space forty metres out. Showing great balance, he was able to out-pace the Barnsley defenders and score in the corner. Davies converted from the touch-line. 15 – 45.Lewis Hannibal scored his second try with a few minutes left in the game. Finding himself with space and time when in open attack, he scored five metres in from the left touch-line. Davies hit the post with the conversion, the ball bouncing back in to the field of play. 15 – 50.York’s replacement hooker scored the final try of the game, bursting through one tackle forty five metres out and running in. Davies converted to make the final score Barnsley 15 York 57.

It was a good performance by the whole team. Congratulations also to Barnsley who competed throughout and showed very good spirit.