York travelled to Acklam yesterday to play their Yorkshire One fixture. Before the game, York were in third place, three points behind West Leeds (in the play-off spot), Acklam were bottom of the league. Acklam’s home form during the season has been OK though, winning four out of their ten home games. Acklam are spending this season in Yorkshire One to balance the league numbers, their regular home is in the Durham and Northumberland league. They have been a credit to the league, playing with spirit and have gained some surprising victories. They were not to be under-estimated. Chris Fox and Toby Atkin (at second-row and scrum-half respectively) returned for York after missing last week. Liam Hessay played at fly-half with Neil McClure at full-back. Tom Woffendin started on the wing, Will Atkin moving to outside-centre.

The match began, Chris McRobert, the Acklam scrum-half found a gap and ran clear to the York five-metre line where he was tackled. After Acklam re-cycled the ball, John Garton was able to score. Full-back, Daniel Ashton, kicked the conversion, 7-0. York though, didn’t underestimate Acklam - they played sensible, supportive rugby with short passes (in breezy conditions) and not leaving any ball-carriers isolated. They worked together. York levelled the score after twenty minutes, second-row, Marc Benson received a short ball at pace from Hessay, broke a tackle and the covering defence couldn’t stop him. Neil McClure converted the try, 7-7. Acklam were playing well - turning enough possession over to keep them in the game. As York settled, Toby Atkin made a great break at one stage and was supported by McClure. Shane Goulding also broke from around the edge of a ruck to gain twenty metres. After thirty minutes a York scrum was powering forward and the referee indicated a penalty to York. Atkin was quick to realise that it was a free-ball and he spread the ball to the back-line. After a few phases where York got close to scoring, a maul was set up with nine York players pushing. Campbell Thomson scored and McClure converted the try, 7-14. Shortly after the game re-started, York secured possession. An Atkin box-kick was chased by Hugh Nicholson, putting pressure on the Acklam defence. Two Acklam defenders collided when fielding the ball and Nicholson profited to score; the conversion was good, 7-21. The York defence looked comfortable - Tom Woffendin contributing with a good tackle. The Acklam attack was well intentioned but often looked rushed. A couple of border-line decisions went against Acklam - a forward pass then a penalty and the referee drew the ire of some Acklam supporters. McClure missed a long penalty kick just before half-time and the score remained 7-21.

Just after half-time the York back-line found some space; McClure committed his defender and fed the ball to Will Atkin who was clean through. He showed good pace to score, McClure converted, 7-28. After ten more minutes York won a penalty, kicked to touch, secured the line-out, set up a driving maul and Will Norris scored. The conversion from out-wide was successful, taking the score to 7-35. McClure was kicking very well from the tee and also from hand. Sam Potrykus (at inside-centre) was playing intelligently and with experience, running an effective decoy line when York attacked. More good York passing saw Nicholson get his second try. Hessay passed accurately along the York back-line and Nicholson chose a good line at pace and against the flow of the defence to score. The conversion was good, 7-42. The York attack was being very effective and Neil McClure finished a pre-prepared backs move with fifteen minutes to go. He missed his own conversion, 7-47. Immediately after the re-start, Toby Atkin showed good pace and made a clean break. Thomson gave great support to Toby and scored - conversion good, 7-54. York rotated their front-row with Daz Rutherford replacing Russ Bowers at hooker for a time and James Hartley replacing Dan Coe at prop-forward. Marc Benson made a break but the Acklam cover tackling was good. Benson was yellow-carded shortly after. The final try of the game went to York. Acklam were attacking but mishandled the ball under pressure, Will Atkin collected and ran seventy metres to score; the conversion was good giving the final score of Acklam 7 York 61.

Acklam should be credited, not just for today, but for the season. There are some good teams in Yorkshire One and they have fought and competed in every match, their supporters remaining faithful. The gap between York and West Leeds remains at three points after West Leeds also won convincingly. There are six league games remaining in the season. Next Saturday is a Yorkshire Shield match away at Bridlington.