Only one league point separated York and Scarborough before yesterday’s game. Both clubs have hopes of promotion and the match marked the mid-way point in the season. Tom Newitt was absent from the York team so Chris Peace made his first appearance of the season following injury and played in the centres with Sam Forbes. They both hoped to combat Graham Hogg and Maloni Moata’ane who were playing opposite them. In the reverse fixture, played in September, Scarborough were powerful and won 20-17.

The crowd was healthy - around a hundred people had travelled from Scarborough to watch and encourage their team. York knocked on from the kick-off, Scarborough attacked. The Scarborough phase play was good, the York defence was stable. After five minutes, Tom Harrison, the Scarborough fly-half, broke a tackle and converted his own try, 0-7. Chris Fox tapped the re-start back to give York possession. Sam Forbes broke the defensive line but he was held up when trying to score. The York scrum was enthusiastic. York did get the ball over the line again but the player was deemed by the referee to have been tackled and held before scoring. Eventually, Scarborough missed several tackles on Chris Peace to enable him to score for York. The conversion was good, 7-7.
Both forward packs were working hard, they were breathing heavily and slower to the scrums. Chris Fox, the York captain, encouraged the York team and gave smart, sensible advice. An important point in the game happened after twenty five minutes. The Scarborough scrum-half, Jordan Wakeman, was injured in an accidental collision and had to leave the game. George Davies kicked a penalty to put York in the lead 10-7. York were not giving Scarborough any space with Daz Rutherford, Josh Parker and Neil McClure all playing key roles. The Scarborough supporters were complaining vocally about their team being penalised for offside on several occasions.
Scarborough missed a penalty kick. Neil McClure, the York fly-half, was positive, communicating well and passing the ball well. York went further ahead when Will Atkin showed speed on one wing, the ball was recycled, passed the width of the pitch through three players and Hugh Nicholson scored on the other wing. Davies converted, 17-7, half-time.

The Scarborough supporters continued to be unhappy with the referee during the interval.

The second half got under way with Sam Forbes tackling well. Tom Ratcliffe, the stand-in Scarborough scrum-half, was then shown a yellow card. The Scarborough attack appeared slower and York appeared to be more organised. Tom Harrison kicked a penalty for Scarborough to bring them back to 17-10.George Davies replied, kicking a penalty for York, 20-10. Shane Goulding, the York number 8, was then sin-binned with the resulting penalty kicked for Scarborough, 20-13. York stabilised, Chris Peace kicked to the corner – gaining field position – Sam Forbes, George Davies and Will Atkin were playing securely. In the last ten minutes, Maloni Moata’ane had a fantastic chance to score for Scarborough. He carried the ball, with a supporting player, and only one York defender to beat but he didn’t pass and another York defender was able to chase back and tackle him. Matt Hargreaves, the York scrum-half was able to clear any danger with a good box-kick - Hugh Nicholson chasing the ball and tackling the catcher to keep pressure on the visitors. Shane Goulding came back on. Scarborough could have scored again. The final pass to their winger didn’t go to hand, he hacked the ball on then dropped on it in the try area, but the referee ruled that there was a player in an offside position. Shane Goulding carried the ball forward from the back of a York scrum, Matt Hargreaves kicked the ball into touch and the game was over. It was close, exciting and York did well to win.

York, now second in the league table, are away at Selby next week.