York travelled to what recently has been the opening game of the season. Alnwick must be their most delightful away venue. They have been in the league for many years and their pitch certainly gives the home side an advantage. The new sides to the league from last season are local side Selby, whom York have not played for many years, Huddersfield and Percy Park.

York brought with them a large number of supporters some of whom had decided to make a weekend of it and who provided vocal support throughout the game. It is a long time since York managed a win at Alnwick. Last season was close. As always, the start of the season brings hope and with a new coach and some new players, including second row Kym Russell, the supporters were quietly optimistic. Alnwick also had a new coach, and their team had a youthful look with several new players and according to their supporters the team had yet to gel.
York kicked off and immediately put the home side under pressure and after only 5 minutes a charged down clearance kick allowed fly half Harry Shackleton to score in the corner. He slotted over a very difficult conversion and the score was 0-7.

From the kick off York took the ball out of their own half; a home player was guilty of foul play and received a yellow card. York kicked to the corner and from the line out earned another penalty which they declined to kick, opting instead for a scrum. Alnwick defended it well, gained possession and took the ball to the York half but it was not long before they were back on the attack. From another penalty York’s H Shackleton took the easy 3 points on offer and after 15 minutes the lead was now 10 points.

Alnwick then came more into the game, enjoying more possession and time in the York half. A penalty attempt from the halfway line failed, but a further York infringement allowed the home side to kick to the 5 metre line and only very strong defence kept them out. Play then went back to the Alnwick 22 and a further infringement allowed H, Shackleton to add a further 3 points to take the score to 0-13 after 30 minutes.
Shortly afterwards scrum half T Atkins had to leave the field with what appeared to be a serious injury. Wing A J Peplinski moved to scrum half. The change did not affect York’s play, and they spent the majority of the rest of the half in their opponents 22 and only desperate defence kept York from adding to their score which remained at 0-13 at half time. It had been a very good half for the away side. The scrum was solid, the line out functioned well, the defence was excellent, and both the forwards and backs handled and ran with the ball with confidence. Could the good start be maintained?

To the surprise of the York supporters T Atkins returned for the second half showing no sign of injury. Alnwick caught the ball from the kick off and went into the York 22 and earned a penalty. Instead of taking the points on offer they took a scrum which York defended and quickly took play to the home side’s 22 where they conceded a penalty. York kicked to the 5 metre line but lost the line out. Play remained in the Alnwick half and after 15 minutes after a good break in the centre the ball went to wingman AJ Peplinski, he showed his pace and scored in the corner. H Shackleton missed the conversion. The score now 0- 18. From the kick off Alnwick conceded a penalty, York kicked to their 22 where the home side infringed again, and H Shackleton had no difficulty with the kick and the lead was now 21 points.

Alnwick now had time on the ball and took play to the York 22 but solid defence again kept them out and forced a mistake allowing York to clear their lines and advance to their opponents 22 where a further penalty allowed them to kick to the 10 metre line. Unfortunately, the line out was lost but it wasn’t long before a further penalty by the home side allowed York a catch and drive from a 10 metre line out, but Alnwick defended it well. York conceded a penalty from the resulting scrum allowing the home side to clear. The chance appeared to have gone but from a very untidy York scrum 30 metres from the home sides line the ball squirted out and wing M Ashman out of nowhere was away down his wing and under the posts. H Shackleton had no problem with the conversion. The score now 0-28 after 33 minutes.

To their credit Alnwick kept at it and spent the rest of the game in the York half and eventually the pressure told, and they scored in the corner. The difficult conversion was kicked to take the score to 7-28. It was almost the last kick of the game which ended without further score.
A very good all-round performance from York who thoroughly deserved the win. An excellent start to the season. Next week the opponents are Blaydon away.