When the temperature hit minus 4 in York during the early hours of Saturday morning, there will have been a few people worrying if the game was going ahead, those worries will have been well out the window come 3pm where many would argue the conditions were perfect for a great game of rugby, and that is what we got to see.

The sides entering the field of play at 3pm, York in their very stylish charity shirt were attacking away from the clubhouse, Alnwick in their traditional blue and yellow were attacking towards the Clifton Park end and Laz in his York RUFC supporter shirt was stood well away from the Veo camera’s microphone…

York start the game very well, taking the game to Alnwick with some great interplay, building pressure that forced an Alnwick man to infringe. Early penalty for York which Harry Shackleton strikes beautifully to give York an early lead. 3-0

York gather the restart well and their fast start to the game was about to get even better with what I will have no doubt be try of the season. York move the ball left and Declan passes to Shackleton who gets the ball just in his own half. He dummies and steps to break the first line of defence, before gliding his run to the right, then stepping quickly left and right to leave the Alnwick 15 with his legs crossed and head in his hands. A further couple of tackles are avoided with more excellent footwork before Shackleton dots down to the left of the posts. One of the best individual try’s that Clifton Park has ever seen. Shackleton then kicks the conversion for his own try and York lead 10-0.

Alnwick take the restart and come back at York well. They regather the ball in the York half and now it’s their turn to show what they have got. The large Alnwick pack carries well and draws in the York defence who are more than up for the challenge. York’s line speed on their own line is excellent, putting pressure on the hands of the Alnwick’s ball carriers, forcing a knock on. York's loose head prop has been moaning all season that he never gets a mention in the match report, so this scrum was a great opportunity to secure ball close to the York line and relieve some pressure. Alex Westaby scrummed well, creating a solid platform so Declan was able to clear downfield.
The clearance kick is only a short respite for the York defence as Alnwick win their own ball at the lineout and are on the attack again. They use the full width of the pitch to drag York to the right, eating space out wide. They ball is then shifted with great accuracy from right to left for a score in the left corner. 10-7 and game on!

The sides continue to be very closely matched, with York having slight advantage in field position. Willem Enslin, York RUFC’s own Benjamin Button, carries well and often to secure York good field position. The York fans then get to see their first glimpse of “Electric Atkin” (A nickname he has given himself this season) at full flight. He makes a great break and is dragged down just before the Alnwick line. Alnwick again are too eager in defence and stray offside. York elect to take the 3 points and Shackleton does just that.

From the Alnwick restart the York fans were to be given another try of the season contender. Gus takes the restart well and the York pack get around him to secure the ball. Ross White then carries well, drawing in a few defenders and creating an overlap out wide. The ball is recycled quickly and moved through the hands to the left to find Will Scholey in the outside centre channel. Scholey turns on the afterburners, which look a little light on both fuel and horsepower, to draw in 2 men and release a perfectly timed offload to Tom Woff. Woff has the cover tackler to beat, he steps inside and then out before using a strong fend to race away into the corner. A great try! Shackleton makes his first error with the boot and the conversion is missed. York lead 18-7 at half time.

Alnwick start the second half on top and again build phases deep into the York half. Yorks defence again is strong and manages to force a knock on to win a scrum on their own 22. The play continues and a bit of kick tennis unfolds. After several kicks back and forth, Declan's boot comes out on top, forcing Alnwick to kick from deep and York have the lineout around the half way line.

From the lineout, Alnwick manage to force the turnover and are attacking again, progressing up the field deep into Yorks 22. York's defence will not budge and again force a penalty with an Alnwick man going off his feet at the ruck. York see that Alnwick are not quick to get back the 10 metres and tap and go from deep, it is definitely on to go because the space is there, but there are a few tired legs from the previous defensive set and York cannot get the support to the ruck and are penalised for holding on. Alnwick kick to the corner and attack well resulting in a try. York lead 18-14.

From the kick off Alnwick clear their lines and York go on the attack. Jackson and Stockton carrying well to take York into the Alnwick half. There is then a huge turning point in the game where Alnwick manage to turn the ball over and a great kick wins a 50-22 and an attacking lineout close to the York line. The lineout is won cleanly and some great running lines in the outfield break down the York defence and Alnwick are under the sticks for a try. In a few minutes the game is turned on its head and now Alnwick lead 18-21.

York take the restart and some great athleticism from Sam Croft allows him to gather the ball and get York back on the front foot. Cusack releases Shackleton who breaks the Alnwick line to leave the defence scrambling. The Alnwick winger rushes to the ruck to try slow the ball down and goes off his feet. York win the penalty and a deserved yellow card is given to Alnwick's winger. York tap and go from the penalty and the play remains close to the Alnwick line until York end up winning a scrum. From the scrum, York spread the ball right and then back to the left quickly before Will Fordy throws a wonderful pass to Tom Woff who gets over the line for his second of the afternoon. A great response from York and they now lead 23-21.

York now lead but they do look the more tired out of the 2 sides. Alnwick's pack has carried well all afternoon and the bigger men look like they have sapped the energy from York; we were about to see the effect of this in the next 10 minutes of play, which resulted in 3 unanswered scores for Alnwick. The first 2 of these the ball was moved excellently in the hands along with powerful running to break down the York defence to score. The third try, was some brilliant play where a chip and chase was regathered, leaving the York defence stretched. From the ruck there is more great interplay from Alnwick and the space opens up for their 15 to score. Alnwick now lead 23-40.

The game might be over in terms of the score line, but York show great heart and continue to take on Alnwick. York finish the game on the attack and Tom Woff is involved again. He uses great footwork to drag the Alnwick defence to his left before releasing a lovely pass to Davies who then moves the ball quickly to Avison to score in the corner. Another great score and the score is now a better reflection of the game and the grit York showed throughout. The conversion is missed and the final score is York 28 - 40 Alnwick.

Those who were present today from York may have been gutted about the result but should be immensely proud of the York lads who all put in a great performance. An outstanding game of rugby with exceptional skill and heart shown by both teams. On another day York may have got the win, but it was an evenly fought game throughout and a great 10 minute spell from Alnwick meant they deservingly came out on top.

Match Report by Joe Maud