The heavy showers and stiff breeze kept the cork firmly in the champagne bottle as Heath drew York into a game of “ugly rugby” as their supporters described it. The game being a physical confrontation and battle of tactical kicking for position that Heath were better equipped for and ultimately secured them a convincing victory 30-6. Fly half Johnson, recently of Sale RFC, orchestrated Heath’s efforts with consummate ease keeping his big pack going forward with accurate kicking into the corners that set the pattern for the game. Their forwards, carrying with considerable power, were difficult to handle. York by contrast seemed determined to keep themselves under pressure with inaccurate kicking that often gave the ball straight back to Heath in good field position and York on the back foot.

It was the intensity of defensive effort that kept Heath out for the first twenty minutes. York opened the scoring very much against the run of play after Heath were judged to be offside at the breakdown 30m in front of their own posts. Davies, who is place kicking well this season, made no mistake. Heath were straight back on the offensive from the restart and York were lucky when Heath were unable to take advantage a huge overlap eventually passing the ball in to touch. After a further period of pressure in York’s 22m area Heath decided to take the points and levelled the score with a penalty by Cooper. Heath 3, York 3.

Another rare foray into the Heath half enabled York to extend their lead with another penalty after a good break by Maud took them to within kicking distance. Heath offside again, the reliable Davies converting again. Heath managed to cross the York line in the left-hand corner with a fine run by wing Harriott-Brown slipped out of two tackles. York finally managed to exert some tempo on the game, Atkin managing to get some quick ball that enabled centre Fordy to run at some gaps. A steal by Atkin at the back of the Heath scrum raised the heart rate but ultimately, he couldn’t find the two York men outside him; Woffendin unable to contain his frustration at the missed opportunity in front of him.

The York support was hopeful of a storm weathered as we turned round at half-time Heath 8, York 6 and the breeze behind them in the second half. Heath had other ideas and proceeded to create a storm of their own “ugly rugby” that saw them go over for three more tries, the last one a penalty-try for collapsing the driving maul, and one penalty. Heath 30 York 6.

The physical confrontation brought about by the Heath pack prevented York from creating any tempo with slow, greasy ball preventing the backs from being a viable option; both sides showing that passing was difficult. York was forced into a physical game in the narrow channels and not able to test the Heath defence out wide which has been a fruitful hunting ground for York in the past. York’s pattern of play became so predictable at times there were three defenders waiting to thump the ball carrier backwards. The physicality of the game took its toll with both sides using their full benches but Heath, going forward thanks to Cooper’s intelligent kicking, seemed to have it easier than York. As York’s error rate increased, Heath’s spirit and appetite got stronger. Rugby is a simple game when going forward.

There were some highlights in York’s performance. Maud tackled like a trojan as well as carrying strongly. Fordy and Atkinson presented a solid wall of defence in the centre. Paddy Hayes had a baptism of fire in his first team debut but acquitted himself more than well with a strong physical performance that occasionally had one wondering if he was wearing the wrong colour shirt. The York lineout functioned well with accurate throwing from White to Croft and Fothergill. The loss leaves York languishing in tenth place in the league and after the highlight of the Doncaster Phoenix performance, realising they need to bring their whole selves to each and every minute of every game. There was a lot of endeavour from 1-18 but the lack of accuracy and good decisions from the start, suggest they didn’t bring their game heads to the battle that characterises rugby in this league.