It was a clear day, with no significant breeze in the leafy suburbs of Nottingham, as York took on the League’s bottom side in a match that the visiting supporters had pencilled in as a “cert bonus point win”. It turned out to be “one helluva scrap” and one in which York did well to finally overcome a very combative opposition with no shortage of both skill and flair. York were much changed, with Cusack returning at flyhalf and Shackleton moving to inside centre, Barrick on his outside and Woffendin and Atkinson on the wings. Most importantly the backrow was also rejigged with Fothergill, Hayes and skipper White teaming up for the first time as a unit. Consterdine took White’s place as hooker with the remainder of the front five very much the regular unit. This selection was to be well tested over the 80 minutes!

York kicked off and they managed to recover the ball when West Bridgford (WB) failed to secure it, enabling Cusack to find a good touch. There followed a penalty in the visitors’ favour, taken quickly by Atkin, along the line to Davies who made a good break to put skipper White in at the corner. The conversion was missed. (0-5). All very much according to the York script!! Stockton took the restart well but York were then penalised which enabled WB to find a good touch. Hayes stole the lineout only to lose possession with a knock on in contact. York were enjoying a massive ascendancy at scrum time which was to last the whole match, but which required WB to move the ball from the base of their retreating scrum as quickly as possible. So the scene was set and after engineering a break which Davies stopped with a superb tackle, the home side switched to the other wing and Pearson scored a fine try which Gunn converted. (7-5). WB knocked on at the restart, York gained the scrum penalty, Cusack found a good touch but advantage was thrown away by a “not straight”. However York’s tails were up and after a further scrummage advantage they snapped up an interception and Woffendin got over the line. Again the conversion was missed. (7-10).

WB were again penalised, this time for a high tackle which saw Cusack go for the corner and although the home side struggled to contain the rolling maul, as soon as the ball was on the ground they came into their own. In fact a ten minute period followed when the home side were penalised at the scrums, York would chose to reset and then proceed to either knock on or overcomplicate the next play before losing the ball forward or on the ground. WB were gaining in confidence based on York’s inability to make their advantage count and after a series of good tactical kicks and a good rolling maul flanker Ormerod was over in the corner for Gunn to convert.(14-10). The home side really did have their tails up and they finished the half dominant, running at every opportunity and getting worryingly close on several occasions.

The second half started much as the first period had finished but with Jackson replacing the injured Fothergill for York. The visitors for all their endeavour always seemed to present WB with a “get out” either a knock on, or penalty on the ground whereas the home side attacked with flair and commitment. On one such break, it looked as if the home wing was away and clear only for York’s Shackleton to save the day with a fine cover tackle. However the resultant clearance from the York line saw WB take a quick short line out and put Dickenson through under the posts for a good try converted by Gunn. (21-10). The home fans, with only 2 victories all season really did begin to believe!!

The change in the York structure after the break had seen Scholey move to No8 which enabled a replication of the usual York style, and together with Jackson, we finally saw the visitors began to “rampage forward”. They gained a penalty close to the posts and the ever alert Atkin was through. Again, and almost unbelievably the conversion was missed. (21-15). The WB defenders were finding the York forwards, particularly Messrs Scholey and Jackson very difficult to handle and following another drive Shackleton glided through a ragged defence for the bonus point try. The conversion was missed so York still trailed. (21-20).

On the restart the home side were penalised for contact in the air, but having found a good touch York then gave up the advantage when penalised on the ground. However, although WB cleared to touch they lost control of the line out and from the ensuing rolling maul the effervescent Atkin scurried over for a try that was actually converted to ironic cheers. (21-27). Both sides were committing penalty offences but with the York scrum totally dominant and its line outs secure, the home side became increasingly desperate. They were running from all positions which eventually played into York’s hands when following yet another break by Jackson, Shackleton was over for his second of the afternoon. Once again the kick was missed. (21-32). The game was won, although the last few minutes saw a frantic WB well contained, they never really reached parity in territory or possession.