The “Touchline experts” had all calculated that York Rugby’s promotion push would be given a significant boost if success against Hullensians at Springhead Lane could be achieved. This despite being without skipper Fox, and as Sam Forbes led the team out onto a “tacky” pitch, hopes were high.

Despite an early exchange of exploratory kicks and with Hullensians showing a desire to run the ball, there were worrying signs that York’s first time tackling was not up to standard. In addition York were not securing the ball on the ground and from one such turnover, Hullensians, in a sweeping movement, went over in the corner. The conversion failed. ( 5-0 ) Stung, York hit back almost from the restart with Newitt embarking on a high speed arcing run which finished with Goulding crashing over out on the left. Davies’ conversion hit the post. ( 5-5 ) The eighth minute saw the first scrum in the middle of a very scrappy period of play and almost inevitably a York drive broke down in midfield. Followed by some missed tackles and the home side showing good hands, resulting in scrum half Smith scampering in under the posts. Easy conversion by Baldwin. ( 12-5 ) At this stage York looked very jittery. They were penalised for careless use of the boot and on the quarter hour the second scrum occurred,from which a slick blindside move was snuffed out by No8 Goulding at full stretch.
As often this season, York looked to Newitt and having secured a good lineout, the ball reached Newitt who scorched over. Davies was narrowly wide. ( 12-10 ) York continued to be beaten to the ball on the ground, which gave Hullensians the ascendancy in the loose play and allowed the home side, with some slick handling to score out wide on the left wing. An excellent conversion. ( 19-10) With Hullensians still looking to run, the play was rapid but mainly side to side. However Newitt again proved the saviour, when he picked up a loose ball and having evaded 3 or 4 tacklers he scored under the posts. Davies converted. ( 19-17 ) This marked the start of a period of York pressure. Some good tactical kicking by McClure and a penetrative run by Atkin were putting York on the front foot and just before half time Nicholson followed up an angled kick, secured the ball and scored under the posts. Again Davies converted. ( 19-24 ) The first half finished with McClure just failing to find an unmarked Newitt which would surely have put the match beyond Hullensians.

The start of the second half saw York camp in the home side’s half and under pressure a penalty was conceded, which Davies converted. ( 19-27 ). A good drive by Thorpe was only stopped when York infringed again, although Hullensian’s failure to find the penalty touch allowed Newitt to counter strongly. The home side conceded a further penalty and Davies put it into the corner. Unfortunately York failed to secure the line out and the pressure was relieved. A further pressure penalty saw York again kick for position and again lose the subsequent line out. This failure to convert pressure to points proved to be the turning point of the half and indeed the match.
Hullensians came more into the game and only a great tackle by Davies saved York’s line but the tide had turned. A miscall by the referee allowed play to continue in the home side’s favour and No 4 Smith crashed over for a try against the run of play which was subsequently converted. ( 26-27 ) More, almost desperate pressure from York and Davies converted a further penalty. (26-30 ) However when York in turn were penalised for not releasing, some good tactical kicking took play to the York 5 metre line and almost inevitably a driving maul saw an Hullensian try, unconverted in the corner. ( 31-30 ) York tried to the end and were unlucky with the last play to be forced into touch 1 yard short. To no avail. No freebies from the City of Culture!!

However the feeling remains amongst the long suffering supporters. How, after scoring 4 tries in the first half, could York not get one of their strike runners over the line, or indeed anywhere near it, in the second period. It has happened far too often this season.