Saturday's score of 31-10 was not really the Valentine's Day [Eve] massacre suggested as York more than played their part in a cracking game against in form Bridlington.

Playing into a strong seaside breeze at Dukes Park, solid defensive work from York matched the enterprising efforts of the hosts as play was largely confined to the middle 40m. This was to change, as Brid kicked for touch on 10 minutes, quick lineout ball was whipped out to the backs where a nice switch move at pace put skipper Girking in under the posts,7-0. Back came York and good ground was gained through the forwards notably Marc Benson and Ed Proctor, to earn their own penalty and kick to touch, in the Brid 10m.The hosts were to foil York's usually effective driving maul and kicked to safety. Brid's backs were now enjoying possession within the York half with flyhalf Welch setting up big centres Martin and Roberts on gainline breaking surges, Doughty defence held them at bay until on 25 minutes a clever cross kick nearly put the winger over. The ensuing York lineout misfired, not for the first time in this half, and home prop Mrwetyana forced his way over for the converted try,14-0.

Brid now applied the pressure as two York infringements brought them onto the 20m, Martin again proving a handful in the midfield requiring 2 tacklers to bring him down, the overlap was inevitably created and winger Davies touched down in the corner on 35 minutes, 19-0. Straight from the kick off, Kiwi no 8 Thompson surged through the York defence to earn his side another lineout in the York 10m, this time however, York secured their possession well, to allow Jon Dawes to strike a mighty relieving kick to touch. Seemingly inspired, York finished the half stronger after a good break from George Davies earned a penalty in the home half to set up an attacking lineout in the home 15m. This was to be victim of errors too and so the half ended.

It was now the host's turn to play into the now stiff breeze and they immediately failed to make 10m from the kickoff and from the scrum, Toby Atkin jinxed through the middle to earn a promising 5m attacking lineout which again was judged not straight. The York backs were now enjoying possession and spread the ball fluently through several phases as their opponents now struggled with the wind. After repeated York forays without too much gainline success, centre Chris Peace dummied through and fed winger Will Dunlop who went close before being tackled to touch. York went close twice again, as Brid conceded penalties, only for the final ball to be spilled. This was to be punished on 25 minutes as Brid got into the York half for the first time, strong runs midfield and a missed tackle resulted in Welch touching down under the posts, 26-0.York came straight back and forced their opponents into conceding penalties from which Josh Parker broke upfield and the ball was fed wide to Benson who surged over for the try, Liam Hessay just wide with the conversion, 26-5.

With the restart ball going out on the full, York gained possession straight back and the lively Tom Newitt made good ground up the far touch before the excellent home defence caught him. On 35 minutes Brid made another rare venture into York territory and again gave a lesson in how to take your chances as a conceded penalty and a further 10m for backchat was punished by Thompson plunging over far out, 31-5. In the last minutes, York camped in the Brid 20m and earned a penalty which was kicked to touch, a brave throw to the back was rewarded as Brid lost a man to the sinbin and from the scrum Proctor plunged over, 31-10 final score.

Coaches Denham and Thomson will have been encouraged by a lot of this performance as the team definitely seem to be adapting to their style. It’s unfortunate that we met a side in it's pomp and who's first half display was as good as I've seen for a couple of seasons. Very hard to pick a man of the match but back rower Campbell Thomson just edged Lee's vote for another tireless display.