York travelled to Lincolnshire knowing that victory was required to put their faltering promotion challenge back on track against a side they had beaten easily in the home fixture in November. Although still on the top of the table York no longer had a points cushion on the sides just below them and any slip up would send York down the table. Their results since the new year of 2 wins, 3 losses and a draw were in contrast to those in the first half of the season, 11 wins and 2 losses. In contrast Scunthorpe’s form up to Christmas was poor with only 3 wins and they seemed destined for relegation. Since then, they had lost only twice and came into the game on a run of 4 victories on the trot which had put them into mid table.

The weather was fine with a breeze blowing down the pitch and the pitch in good condition and there was a hint of spring in the air. York had brought a sizeable number of spectators to add vocal support to their team. Harry Shackleton returned from injury at fly half but loanee Matt Ferguson was unavailable through illness, so Alex Riley came in at scrum half. Kyle Consterdine clocked up his 50th appearance in the York shirt.

York kicked off up a slight slope and immediately went on to the attack putting several phases together and a score looked likely, but the home side turned the ball over and kicked for touch and the chance was gone. York lost the line out and Scunthorpe then took the game to the visitors. Their game plan was simple, use the fly half who could kick the ball a country mile to put the ball in York’s half and then use their large pack to grind York down. They were helped by their number 7 who was their standout player and influential throughout the game always first at the breakdown and making ground with ball in hand. The tactic bore fruit after 7 minutes when they kicked to within 10 metres of the York line, took the ball at the front of the line and scored an easy try. The conversion was missed. The score 5-0. From the kick off York went on the attack, but it was not long before play was back in their half. York tried to put pressure on their opponents but on the occasions when York managed to break out a loose pass, penalty or knock on meant that momentum and possession was lost. As a result, they never spent time on the ball and were not able to build up any pressure. In contrast the home side were playing with the confidence that a winning run brings. York had to defend desperately and from a rolling maul a try seemed inevitable but was defended but eventually pressure told and just before the end of the half a second penalty was kicked to take the score to 11-0 a score which did not reflect the play and the dominance of the home side. York seemed not to be playing at their usual pace. The supporters hoped that the interval would provide an opportunity for their side to regroup.

York started the second half playing the style of rugby their supporters were used to, direct, playing with pace with good interchange between forwards and backs. It quickly brought them a penalty which was kicked to their opponents 10 metre line. From the line out quick ball amongst the backs allowed centre Angus Barrick to cross the try line. The conversion was a formality for Harry Shackleton. The score 11- 7 after 5 minutes. A further score quickly followed, pressure resulted in a penalty for offside on the 22 metre line and again Harry Shackleton had no difficulty. After 8 minutes the score was 11-10. The York supporter’s spirits were now lifted as a come back seemed likely. Unfortunately, it was not to be as York’s urgency and pace seemed to desert them and they allowed Scunthorpe to control the remainder of the game. Scunthorpe scoring a converted try following desperate York defence after 14 minutes to stretch the lead to 18-10. York managed to reduce the deficit by 3 points after a further 2 minutes with another Harry Shackleton penalty, but the remainder of the scoring and the game belonged to the home side. A further try followed after 19 minutes which although unconverted took the score to 23-13 and meant that York would have to score at least twice to edge a win.

That task became impossible when York’s hooker Ben Mills was yellow carded for collapsing a rolling maul on 29 minutes. Scunthorpe kicked to the 10 metre line and used their forward advantage to cross the line with another rolling maul. The try was converted to stretch the lead to 30-13 after 31 minutes. There was still sufficient time for the home side to score another converted try from a rolling maul to further stretch the lead to 37-13. Scunthorpe then shut up shop and played the few minutes remaining in the forwards before the game came to an end.

Wins for Harrogate and Heath meant that York dropped to third in the table and are now reliant in the remaining fixtures, on other sides doing them a favour. Next week York host bottom of the table Pontefract, when hopefully they will play to their potential and secure a win.