York’s visitors were Scunthorpe who are propping up the table having only won 2 of their games so far this season. However apart from losing heavily to Harrogate the remainder of the losses have been by only 1 or 2 scores. The lack of a reliable kicker is proving the difference according to their supporters. York were looking to extend their winning run and maintain the pressure on league leaders Harrogate. There were several changes from last week’s side. Dan Evans came into the second row and Sam Forbes on the wing. Last minute changes brought Paddy Hayes in at No 7 and Shane Goulding at No 8. A former youth player Andre Robson was on the bench for the first time having returned to the club after playing at a higher level.

Both sides were well supported, the weather which thankfully remained dry, not been a deterrent. The pitch considering the torrential rain over the last few weeks was in very good condition and a credit to the ground staff. The visitors kicked off and put York under immediate pressure and after several phases the winger touched down in the corner to open the scoring. The conversion was missed. 0-5 after only 3 minutes. Any thoughts of any easy afternoon for the home side had quickly disappeared. York immediately responded and after a further 3 minutes the pressure forced the visitors to concede a penalty which Harry Shackleton kicked to reduce the deficit to only 2 points.
The remainder of the half was all York’s and spent in the visitor’s 22 and half. Their line out was efficient and the scrum dominant resulting in a number of penalties in Scunthorpe’s 22 from which York elected to take scrums rather than kick to touch and score from the line out with a catch and drive. Only resolute and at times desperate defence for over 20 minutes kept York out until an infringement allowed the visitors to take play to the halfway line. York quickly regained possession and Lewi Jackson, on as a substitute, went on one of his crowd favourites, a bullocking run with the hint of a sidestep. Sufficient to put the visitors on the back foot & culminating with a try for Shane Goulding to take the score to 8-5. Shortly thereafter another line breaking run from Lewi took play to the 10-metre line from which playmaker Harry Shackleton scored the try of the game ghosting through the opposing backs when it seemed to the supporters that he must be tackled. He had no difficulty with the conversion. The score now 15-5 after 38 minutes. York’s confidence was now sky high and felt that further scores were possible before the half time whistle. Good interplay between forwards and backs quickly took play back to Scunthorpe’s 22 but they conceded a penalty, and the half time whistle was blown.

A good half for York but it was clear that the visitors were determined to play rugby and take the play to their hosts. The home supporters were hopeful that the constant defending would in the second half mean that the visitors would tire, and their side could take advantage and add to the scoreline.

York kicked off and quickly regained possession and constant pressure finally told and full back George Davies went in at the corner after 5 minutes. The conversion was missed, the score now 20-5. The perfect start to the half which soon got better. From the kick off York collected possession and kicked to their opponent’s 22, further good interplay between forwards and backs were too much for the Scunthorpe defence and captain Archie Fothergill scored under the posts. The conversion didn’t pose a problem for Harry Shackleton and after 8 minutes the lead was now 27-5. Whilst the home supporters thought that the game was won Scunthorpe had other ideas. They didn’t lose heart and continued to play positive rugby and put York under pressure spending time on the ball and in the York half and 22. They earned a line out near to the try line, but the resulting catch and drive was well defended and York were able to clear the ball and go on the attack themselves. After 30 minutes Archie Fothergill had to leave the pitch due to injury. Shortly afterwards from nowhere the visiting centre ran from the halfway line through a disjointed defence to score in the corner. The conversion was missed. The score now 27-10 after 36 minutes. This seemed to galvanise York who straight from the kick off went on the attack. The tiring visiting side conceded a penalty near to the line and Toby Atkin took it quickly and scored one of his hallmark try’s which earned a bonus point. It was not converted. The full time whistle soon followed. Final score 32-10.

Overall, a very good York performance against a side who although bottom of the league played with confidence, didn’t make it easy for their opponents and never gave up. York’s scrum, surely the strongest in the league was secure on their own ball and always able to make it difficult for Scunthorpe when they had the put in. The line out functioned well and in the loose they ran with purpose and were always looking for the off load.