There are few better places to play and watch rugby than Clifton Park on an autumnal afternoon like Saturday. The sun was out, the pitch was in good condition, there was no wind, the leaves on the trees were full of colour and there was a good crowd to add to the atmosphere. York’s visitors were Ilkley who had won 3 games to York’s 2 and were 5th in the league.

York needed to get back to winning ways to move away from the relegation zone. They started the game with tempo and took the game to Ilkley, managing to retain the ball through several phases and after 7 minutes the pressure told and the No 8 Enslin crashed over, the conversion was missed 5-0. From the kick off York failed to retain possession, Ilkley enjoyed time in the York half, who conceded a penalty which Ilkley kicked. 5-3 after 11 minutes. For the next 10 minutes neither side could impose themselves on the game which ebbed back and forth until York gave a penalty away, Ilkley kicked to the York 22 and from the line out scored a try from a rolling maul which they could not convert, 5-8 after 20 minutes.

Ilkley gave a penalty away at the kick off, York had a period of possession but could not score and when they lost the ball Ilkley took play to the York 22, they conceded a penalty which was kicked, 5-11 after 26 minutes. York then upped their game and intensity scoring 3 tries before half time, the first two coming from dominance in the scrum which York maintained for the rest of the game. Atkin got the first after 30 minutes, the second by the wing Woffendin after 35 minutes and prop Jackson the third at the end of the half after a barnstorming run. To make the half time score 24-11.

York started the second half by giving away a penalty which Ilkley kicked to make the score 24-14. York then went straight on the attack and after several phrases of play the wing Atkinson scored in the corner after 4 minutes. Cusack converted to make the score 31-14. From the kick off York returned to the Ilkley 22, opted to take scrums from penalties conceded by Ilkley under the pressure and it paid off when Woffendin touched down in the corner after 10 minutes. The conversion attempt came back off the post, the score was now 36-14.

Two minutes later the York dominance in the scrum resulted in the referee losing patience with the Ilkley prop infringing in the scrum and gave him a yellow card. York immediately took advantage and after the ball was won in midfield replacement Riley had too much pace for Ilkley and scored. Cusack scored the conversion. 43-14 after 18 minutes. Another try quickly followed scored by scrum half Atkin after good work by the backs. Cusack put over the conversion. 50-14 to York after 20 minutes.

Understandably York’s pace dropped and Ilkley scored 2 tries neither of which were converted to make the score 50-24 after 33 minutes. The rest of the game was spent in York’s 22 but they managed to keep Ilkley at bay with tenacious defence notwithstanding losing a player on 36 minutes to a yellow card. Final score 50-24.

Overall, a very good result for the home team who were more clinical in attack than in the recent games and took their chances.
Meanwhile on the other pitch York’s second XV were also playing Ilkley, coming out 67 -7 winners in a Merit League Premiership match. A mixture of seasoned campaigners and youngsters also playing a lot of attractive rugby, backed up with a very solid defence.