Level 5 league rugby returned to Clifton Park on Saturday which was presented at its best with the pitch like a carpet and a full house in the new Wood Butler stand opened in a short ceremony by Richard Wood and James Butler in memory of their fathers, faithful servants to York RUFC. It is some years since York entertained Blaydon who went on to play in level 2, and whilst those present couldn’t recollect the year of the last game between the two sides, the great stitch up was fresh in the memory of some. Not the game played at Blaydon in the mid-nineties but the surgery held in the changing room after it, by wing three quarter on the day, Dr.Jon Evans, repairing Dave Spanton and Austin Wrelton after an uncompromising physical encounter. It was an apt precursor to a game that was to be hard-fought to the end by two good sides despite ridiculous temperatures (more reminiscent of a scene from Ice Cold in Alex than a rugby game in Autumn). No quarter given by either side but York’s forward power proving a decisive factor in the end as they ran out 38-24 winners. Late changes to the York line up saw ex York and England Colt Henry Du Boulay starting at No8 in place of Shane Goulding who had failed a late fitness test. Enslin and Avison coming on to the bench.

Possession and territory were even in the opening ten minutes as each side probed the other, both in the forwards and the three quarters, displaying good skills, power and pace only to be met by solid tackling. Simpson and Du Boulay were prominent in the early exchanges with Simpson’s groundwork winning ball with regularity that we haven’t seen for some time. York ‘s power up front through a dominant scrum and superb counter rucking put Blaydon under increasing pressure and provided a great platform for Atkins and Shackleton to dictate where the game was to be played. A 50/22m kick by Shackleton set up a York lineout 5m out, which York recycled taking the game towards the posts. A strong running Jackson slipped a neat pass to Shackleton who went under the posts. York leading 7-0 with Shackleton converting his own try. Blaydon pulled level shortly after following a good jinking break by Cooney which Clarkson converted to bring the game level at 7-7.

The second quarter saw increasing pressure from York who were now trying all the tools in the box to regain the lead. The Blaydon defence was strong and managed to force mistakes from York. An interception by Cooney was fortunately dropped as he had the pace to go all the way. The deadlock was broken when a lively Atkin put Fordy over, Shackleton converting to enable York to go into the break 14-7 in the lead.

The second half saw Blaydon fight their way straight back into the game. A tremendous drive by the York pack set the Blaydon scrum going backwards on the York 22m line, the referee didn’t give the penalty the York crowd expected and, the inappropriately named Slow, sliced through the York defence from full back, Blaydon scoring under the posts. Conversion kicked, game level at 14 -14. Blaydon added another score to take the lead 21-14. York responded with wave after wave of attack, creating good space and lines of running stretching the Blaydon defence from one side to the other. Ashman threatened on the left before play was taken back across the field for Atkinson to threaten on the right. Blaydon’s scramble defence tested but unbroken. More pressure saw the York pack driving over the line only to be held up. The referee issued a yellow card to former Worcester Warriors second row, Turnbull, for collapsing the maul and then awarded a penalty rather than a penalty try; confusion all around on the touchline. York elected to take a scrum and Atkin picked his way through to the line with a typical high energy jinking run from the base. Shackleton converted, honours even again 21 – 21.

Despite Blaydon’s stubbornness and tenacity to keep threatening to exploit York’s mistakes, the pressure from York resulted in three more second half tries by Jackson, Shackleton and Du Boulay against a penalty for Blaydon to seal the game and a try bonus point for York. The pick of these was a superb individual effort by Shackleton. The momentum of the play sweeping to the right on the Blaydon 22m line, the Blaydon defence following and adding to the momentum. Shackleton received the ball at fly half, stepped left, looked right, stepped left again (it wasn’t Strictly Come Dancing but wouldn’t have looked out of place) before touching down, the Blaydon defenders spinning on the spots they had been fixed to in his wake. York dug deep to finish the second half defending doggedly to prevent Blaydon getting a try bonus point. Final score 38-24.

It is a credit to the fitness and dedication of both squads who maintained accuracy and pace to play a highly entertaining game with power and pace to the end despite temperatures in excess of 30oC. Ultimately, the game of rugby was the winner on a day that all will remember for two sides wouldn’t give in to the relentless sun. “Get cracking Joe. Four very, very cold Rheingolds”