For the first match of 2024 York travelled down the A1 to Doncaster who after a strong start to the season winning their first 3 games had only managed one more win and were sitting in the bottom half of the table. York ran out easy winners in the same fixture earlier in the season 29-10 and were hoping to register a further win and consolidate their position at the top of the table. Looking at my report of that game York started slowly and conceded an early try, thereafter they dominated the scrums, possession and territory, could easily have scored more points than they did and finished the game comfortable winners. The supporters and no doubt the coaching and playing staff were hoping for a repeat. They were without scrum half Toby Atkins and George Davies took his place. Otherwise, York had a strong side but like their opponents hadn’t played for 4 weeks. Archie Fothergill returning from injury captained the side.

After so much rain it was a delight to enjoy a dry sharp day and the game was played on an artificial surface so every reason for running rugby. As in the last game York started slowly and quickly conceded a penalty which the home side kicked to the 10 metre line. York were unable to defend the catch and drive from the line out and were 5 points down after 2 minutes. York went on the attack from the kick off and from a charged down kick gathered possession and were tackled just short of the try line. Doncaster’s centre was yellow carded for deliberate offside, although points were on offer York kicked to the 5 metre line, retained possession from the line out and George Davies scored the try which was not converted. The score now 5-5 after 9 minutes.

The score seemed to lift York and for the next 15 minutes they played with confidence and enjoyed a period of possession, territory and pressure. Doncaster however defended well, and the only score was a penalty by No 10 Harry Shackleton after 22 minutes to stretch York’s lead to 8-5. The remainder of the half belonged to the home side as York conceded 3 tries. The first was after 23 minutes when from a penalty Doncaster kicked to the York 5 metre line and from the line out after several phases crossed the try line. The conversion was missed. York’s fly half was then yellow carded for a high tackle. Doncaster kicked to the 5 metre line and scored from the catch and drive. The conversion was again missed. York now trailed 17-8 after 30 minutes.

The home side were now playing with confidence and self-belief. From the kick off York went on the attack but lost the ball in contact conceded a penalty and it was no surprise when Doncaster kicked to the York 22 and from the line out and resulting drive their scrum half found a gap to touch down for another try. It was converted. The score now 24-8 after 36 minutes. There was no further score before half time. The away supporters were still hopeful that the game was not lost but appreciated that it would require their team to play with more confidence, make fewer mistakes and defend the catch and drives from lineouts. There had not been many scrums and York had not established their usual dominance in those that had occurred.

If they were to win the game it was vital that York did not concede a further score but although from the kick off they enjoyed time on the ball, could not get out of their half in the face of determined tackling and defence from the home side. From a scrum on their 10 metre line York conceded a penalty and Doncaster rather surprisingly elected to kick for goal rather than kick for touch and try to score from the lineout. The kick missed and York worked the ball up field but conceded a scrum on their 10 metre line from which Doncaster moved the ball down the back line and scored in the corner. The try was converted. The home side’s lead was now 31-8 after 11 minutes.

The away supporters feared that as York were now looking down the barrel, there was the prospect of conceding further points and a heavy defeat. To their credit the team rallied and for the rest of the game played some good rugby and were the better side but had difficulty turning possession into points. They were not helped by losing possession in contact and conceding penalties. It was not until 30 minutes had passed that they were able to put points on the board. Play was in the home side’s 22, they conceded a penalty, York kicked to the 5 metre line and from the line out and catch and drive, captain Archie Fothergill went over the line. It was an easy conversion for fly half Harry Shackleton. The score now 31-15. York needed a minimum of 2 converted tries to snatch victory. Could they do it?

They certainly thought it was possible and tried. The remainder of the half was spent in the home sides half, but they could not find the scoring pass or space in the face of resolute defence from a side who were determined to keep York at bay. An indication that it was not York’s day was when they did get over the try line a foot went over the dead ball line and the try was not allowed. York ended the game in the ascendancy but left themselves with too much to do after conceding too many points in the first half.

Doncaster were the better side on the day and deserved the victory. They played a simple game, box kicked on many occasions, kept the ball tight and the full back, who had played at a higher level, kicked well for position and kept York on the defensive. Their strength was clearly the catch and drive from the line out from which they scored 4 of their 5 tries.

One of the home supporters told me that it was the best his team had played all season and is an indication of the strength of the league. Hopefully they will also play as well against York’s competitors for promotion! Next week York are at home to local rivals Driffield when they would hope to get back to winning ways.