York travelled to picturesque Settle to face the ubiquitous North Ribblesdale. You've got to take plenty of dog to the Dales -a few mongrels to win the close fight and terriers for a scrap so, hopefully in the end, a little pedigree will out.
As strong winds and showers swept across from Lancashire, the first twenty minutes was redolent of trenchlike attrision in the growing mud, with both packs throwing the kitchen sink at each other.
The arm-wrestle was tight, Richie Roberts provided the hits, whilst Chris Fox scooped all lineout ball with his big mits (sorry). Betterment looked to be ebbing the Clifton Parkers way as the first kickable penalty came their way. However, as happened all day, the wind played havoc with the ball's flight and Dawesy started a theme for the day and hit a post. And worse was to come -as NR put in the clearance kick Daz Rutherford was late in the tackle and had a 10min rest. This just drew more fight from the remaining forwards and, despite being one down, camped in the host's 22 and earned another penalty shot when Billy C was illegally tackled just short of the line following some fantastic handling by the backs. The wind did the wrecking honours again and this Element was to have an even bigger say 5mins later in a freak try for the hosts.
NR visited York's 22 for the first time thanks to a couple of hack-on kicks after the York backs -looking to defy the elements and spread the ball around - failed to retrieve the ball when, its flight hampered by the breeze, it spilt to ground. NR were awarded a penalty for obstruction somewhere in the mellee to regain the ball. The subsequent strike -into the 'breeze'- went high through the posts; but the wind had stalled it and, as it fell to earth, blew it back out, and out, and out, until -on reaching the bar- it was back outside the goal, whereby the NR centre following up caught it and fell over the line for the score.
Not to be put out, York continued the battle upfront. On the stroke of half time got their reward with three ponits pulled back when a Jon Dawes penalty hit the bar and, this time, went over.
Belief was evident as York retook the park for 2nd half -certainly in the front row. Driving maul after driving maul tired the home team. Hit after hit denied them escape from their own half. And it was a 30m maul from a lineout with which they took the lead, as no8 Joe Maud touched down with 5mins played.
The conversion missed York returned to the task, despite the now squally hail sweeping over the valley tops. Rich Downey returned clearing kicks with much interest and young hooker Freddie Potrykus proved willing to drive in every ball. York we now camping at the right end and never looked threatened despite not being able to mount that final push for a clinching score. Dawes hit the bar (no3) with another penalty before stretching the lead to four from another with 10 to go. Any NR final push was repelled with good defence and discipline, which meant York deservedly took the 4 points home after a great feed from our hosts and via few public houses in Skipton.