This Papa Johns Community Cup tie, details of which were only formalised recently, unfortunately had the feel of an “add on” to the end of the season and judging by some aspects of the York team selection, it would seem that several regulars had taken that view. This is not to say that the lads on the pitch did not give 100 per cent effort, but it seemed to take the whole of the first half to find any cohesion. The game was definitely not a “pretty watch” and although the final score of 24-13 probably flattered the home side, York were continuously having to play catch up.

After scrappy early exchanges, Stockport broke through some poor York tackling but a wayward forward pass, saw a great chance spurned. The home side were then penalised at the scrum and York’s Shackleton found a good touch, only for York to lose their own line out! Stockport then ran well at the York defence, gained a penalty which was well directed to the corner and crashed over from a good rolling maul. The conversion hit the post. (5-0). York began to settle and showed some good attacking potential pressurising the home side back to their 5 metre area, where they were penalised at the scrum. Shackleton took the 3 points on offer. (5-3).

Stockport collected their own restart, in itself a bad sign, but the play was scrappy and they were troubled by the surging runs of York’s Jackson and Scholey. They did however win the “on the ground tussle” when the York surges were stopped. Towards the end of the first half and rather against the run of play, Stockport drove down into York’s defensive corner and were over via another rolling maul, for a further unconverted try. Halftime score 10-3.

Early in the second period with Shackleton beginning to dictate the play, York forced successive penalties in the home 22 metre area and after much probing, settled for 3 points. (10-6). York ran it aggressively from the restart but a knock on ended the progress.
The York scrum was beginning to creak ominously and penalties followed. From one, Stockport went to the corner but knocked on which relieved the pressure but not for long, as again, into the corner they went only to be held up on this occasion. York would work their way up field with the enterprising Shackleton pulling the strings only for the home side to secure the loose ball and manoeuvre their way down the touch line. Finally as Stockport went for another rolling maul, York were penalised and a penalty try awarded. (17-6).

It was “now or nothing time” and York’s Scholey and Jackson often made yards but lacked close backup. However from just outside their own 22, a gap appeared in the home line and Atkinson was through in a flash, fed Ashman who showed his exceptional pace to score a fine try which Shackleton converted. (17-13). The game was clearly on a knife edge, but the visitors were again penalised on the ground, Stockport went for the corner and surprise, surprise, scored again via a rolling maul. The try was converted. (24-13)

The visitors fought right to the end but the referee brought York’s disappointing afternoon to a close having conceded 4 tries to only 1 scored. Knowing that the game was a lot tighter than the score suggests but also knowing that the game might have been lost even before the kick off.