On a day and pitch, ideal for open running rugby, York entertained visitors Heath. Encounters in the last 5 years between these teams have been pretty even, York winning 5, Heath 4 and 1 draw. York have had a reasonable start to the league thus far winning 3 of their 4 games to date. Whilst no game is easy in Yorkshire 1, York, I for one thought before kick off, would win it.

York started brightly enough, debutant no6 Parker making good ground into the Heath half and Hargreaves subsequent kick taking play to their 22 metre line. Pressure was short lived, however, with the throw in not going to hand. The subsequent Heath scrum brought play into the York half, not for the first time, (This was going to be the start of a torrid 15 minutes for York) and several phases of play later saw Heath wing Harriet – Brown break 2-3 York tackles to score wide out. Fly half Scales missing the conversion.
Heath immediately came back into the York half where they were awarded a penalty. This time Scales sending the kick between the posts. 0-8 to Heath. Again Heath came straight back at York, dominating the York pack and winning all 50/50 ball. The quick thinking of fly half Scales adding another 3 points with a well taken drop goal in front of the posts on 22 minutes, 0-11 Heath. York seemed to be asleep at this stage and were defending too narrow. Heath once again, too easily found themselves in the York half and again York missed 2-3 tackles in allowing the Heath hooker Puttick to outpace their defence to score wide out. Conversion added 0-18 Heath after 26 minutes.

It wasn’t until the 30 minute that York managed to maintain any sustained pressure when good work by the York pack allowed the ball to be spun wide allowing winger Davies to score in the corner. 5-18 Heath. The remaining 10 minutes was all York pressure which unfortunately produced no further reward, despite Heath been down to 14 men for the last 5 minutes of the half. When their 15 Ramsden was yellow carded for deliberate off side. York’s support of the man with the ball always seemed to be a yard too far away. Half time 5-18 Heath

York needed to start the 2nd half on the front foot and show some aggression in the forward battle, which they were losing. To their credit York did come out fighting and quickly asserted themselves in the Heath 22, where York prop Coe forced himself over. Conversion was missed 10-18 Heath. York were briefly back in the game but Heath, again too easily, found themselves in the York half. A scrum 35 yards out had the York pack moving Heath backward, however the Heath 8 Neilly, who had been solid behind their scrum all day, pickup passed the ball to Scales, who shipped it on to centre Hinchcliffe who easily broke 2 despairing York tackles to score wide out. Scales adding the conversion 10-25.

York to their credit did respond bringing play into the Heath half where an infringement by the Heath forwards allowed Dawes to add the 3 from 28 yards. 13-25 Heath. The next score was again to go to York when again the managed to spread the ball wide for Davies to score his 2nd try of the afternoon in the corner. Conversion missed 18-25 Heath.
York where on the front foot, however from the resulting kick off the ball was dropped, allowing Heath to gain a foothold which would last for the next 10-15 minutes. To their credit, York held and cleared their lines. Unfortunately Heath were soon again on the attack. This time the pressure resulting in a penalty from a York high tackle 35 yards out. Scales who had been dictating the game all afternoon making no mistake. 18-28 Heath.

From the resulting restart York were adjudged to be in front of the kicker, again allowing Heath to gain territory into the York half. Play was now back and forth with neither team looking like adding to the score. York did find themselves briefly in the Heath half but Heath were again allowed to relieve pressure, when another York lineout missed its intended target. York were penalised, Heath cleared to touch and the game was over.

York will reflect on an afternoon of missed tackles and a game that on another day they could probably have won. York’s lack of aggression up front constantly allowed their visitors, all too easily to win 50/50 possession. The York players are adapting to a new style of play. However in doing so, they must not forget they still have to compete, if they are to grind out results.