I knew I was photographer for the day as Rob was unavailable but only found out I was reporter, 15 minutes from kickoff. It was a horrible day for doing either job and the camera went away wet through, at halftime. The report is loosely based on Bees own report with a few observations of my own, along with some comments from Bees spectators and committee. In fact the game was only confirmed at 11am Saturday morning following a pitch inspection. Indicative of the amount of rain was the river which ran next to the ground, a raging torrent complete with canoe slalom poles, it would have taken a complete lunatic to try traverse it.

Apparently they had invited a referee down during the week, to point out where they were infringing at the scrum and breakdowns. Furthermore, I was told that they had been intending to rotate the 1st squad [nice] but having lost for the first time in the previous week, were going with the strongest possible line up. York on the other hand played their 42nd starter this season, having picked from 1st, 2nd and 3rds so far ! Once again due to availability York had to rearrange everything but the front row.

It looked ominous straight from the kick off as Bees gathered a York clearance kick which failed to make touch. Speeding to the corner and converting the try from the touch line. 7-0.A sharp wake up call, to which York responded well and took the game into the Bees half. A penalty narrowly going wide from quite a distance. For 15 minutes or so York constantly pressurised the home side but the defence held firm. Bees were very quick off the mark and held their line, so despite territory and pressure York were unable to score. On twenty minutes the momentum had turned and Bees were making all the running, constantly stretching the York defence as they attacked through the middle before moving the ball out wide. A breakaway looked to have made the line only to be denied by a last gasp tackle. Before York were able to regroup, Bees followed up and squeezed over. 12-0. A Bees supporter remarked that they had only been in York’s half twice in 20 minutes but had scored both times ! Despite the constant rain, both sides were trying to get the ball through hands but with Bees being more successful. The York defence could not hold out indefinitely, getting a bit dog legged at times and not having Bees’ line speed. Bees finally broke the line to score under the posts. 19-0 and half time.

The weather was not abating and the well drilled Bees within 15 minutes, had scored 2 more tries. York to their credit continued to press the Bees defence and finally got some reward. From a penalty finding touch and a well worked catch and drive into the corner, superbly converted from near the touchline. Worsening conditions caused more spilled passes from both sides but Bees were after a big score and got two more tries before the end. Final score 45-7. Both sides competed for 80 minutes, playing in good spirit in appalling conditions and it was well reffed.

York have Hullensians at home next week before a week off. They need to settle the rocking boat and calm the nerves of those watching, probably including the coaches. Undoubtedly the ability and the patterns/plays are there, they just need to complete them. At the moment York are working hard, gaining territory and creating plenty of chances, which are then being squandered. In what is a very competitive league they cannot afford to keep doing that.