Supporting York RUFC away from Clifton Park, has, this season, been a truly traumatic experience. However whereas on earlier trips the team contrived to snatch defeat/draw from the jaws of victory, the trip to West Leeds saw a fine fight back to secure a bonus point draw.
West Leeds, second in the table, were entertaining the fourth placed side, and in truth probably their closest rival for the “play off” spot. Overnight rain had left the pitch heavy and a mean breeze must have been difficult for the teams to handle.

The hosts kicked off and immediately York ceded the initiative with a knock on and from the ensuing scrum a penalty was given away directly in front, 3-0 with only 2 minutes on the clock. Leeds’s tactical kicking was astute and suggested at having done some homework on the York tactics. So much so that it was almost 10 mins before a decent foray into home territory occurred. A further scrummage infringement however took play back into York’s half and the initiative was lost. Some scrappy play, followed by yet another infringement on the ground, saw West Leeds edge further ahead, 6-0. York were then their own worst enemy and an offside at the restart, followed by some poor first time tackling, allowed an excellent bit of handling by the hosts rounded off by their left wing in the corner. West Leeds led 11-0 and only one side in it!

As the first half moved towards its close, York began to exert some territorial pressure and after the home side was in turn penalised for not rolling away, York pinned them into the corner and at the second time of asking, a good rolling maul saw the visitors drive over for an unconverted try by Josh Parker, 11-5. This resurgence was quickly snuffed out when, on the restart, York again knocked on and from the ensuing scrum and aided by poor tackling, West Leeds carved through the centre to score a converted try, 18-5. Further self-inflicted damage followed with a clearance kick directly into touch and shortly after the resultant scrum, a highish tackle right in front of the posts saw the home side extend their lead right on half time to 21-5. Only one side in it and thoughts of promotion a long way away.

The “fail to collect the restart” disease then affected the hosts and allowed York to move forward with intent, but a further infringement on the ground ceded the gains. However a strong York break on the left, saw some “professional obstruction” which in turn led to some “handbags” and West Leeds being reduced to 14 men for 10 mins. From the penalty McClure pinned West Leeds back and after two rolling mauls had failed to reach the line, perhaps because of illegal interference, the home side broke up field. However York were now beginning to tick and they surged forward, kicked tactically, chased well but again were “obstructed”. This time the reward was a penalty try which was converted, 21-12.
The game had turned and York enjoyed a period of good pressure, although tension was beginning to appear, as demonstrated by a knock on two yards out which gave away a great position. However Leeds were physically tiring and York’s scrum was beginning to dominate, but shortly after totally disrupting the home scrummage, a further careless “on the ground” incident resulted in a fairly simple penalty kick to the home side, 24-12.

It was now or never and York really stirred. Forced back, West Leeds conceded penalty after penalty and from one such incident York crashed over for an unconverted try by Toby Atkin, 24-17. The one way traffic continued, but York were also continuing to commit the basic mistakes eg knock on, which allowed the desperate hosts to clear their lines. However, the scoring concluded with a “push over” dabbed down by Shane Goulding, which reflected the York scrum’s superiority and required George Davies to hold his nerve and convert to secure the draw. Final score 24-24.

League Points, West Leeds 2, York 3 having scored 4 tries, but surely the hosts will view the result as satisfactory, whereas York will view it as another chance missed. York now third in the table 6 points behind West Leeds, with Old Brodleians and Scarborough only 3 points further back.