On a cold but overcast day in Huddersfield, with a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch, York, with several key players missing due to injury, kicked off against the elements. Although YM knocked on, the resultant scrum set the tone for much of the afternoon, as York’s reshaped front row struggled for parity. YM however were falling foul of the referee and after about 7 minutes of YM pressure, York were awarded a penalty which scrum half Atkin took quickly. He was well backed up, the ball eventually reach skipper Fox, marauding in the centre, who in turn fed Davies who was held just short but saw Hannibal over for the first score of the day. The conversion attempt by Dawes struck the upright. (0-5).From the restart York knocked on. In windy conditions one poor restart is possibly understandable but before the final whistle this error had been repeated again and again. Further exchanges saw YM driving pressure repulsed by York’s good defence and skilful probing and on one such foray York’s Downey was stopped just short. Their difficulties were compounded when prop Rutherford was forced off with back problems. Hartley was the replacement and both he and Coe did a solid, but hard shift for the remaining 60 minutes.

YM were on the front foot and pounding away at the York line but just when it seemed the dam would break, skipper Fox snaffled a loose ball and almost immediately YM were penalised for a high tackle. Hessay found little distance with the kick, but directly from the resultant line out, Hessay himself made a beautiful break and evading all attempted tackles covered the 75 yds to score York’s second try. The conversion slid just outside the upright. (0-10). The restart was again spilled and YM resumed their driving attacks but lost Garden to the bin, for a high tackle. This eased the scrummage pressure slightly, and with a bit of ball there were instances when the York inside backs, Hessay, Forbes and Davies looked very slick. Following a grubber by Dawes, and some good handling, skipper Fox threw a lovely “miss pass” allowing Davies to cross near the posts. Dawes was successful with the conversion. (0-17). York were now playing some scintillating rugby and the whole balance of play had switched. When they lost the vital possession, YM managed to stretch the York defence sufficiently to allow centre Chappell to cross for a converted try (7-17). This was a vital score and the YM heads came up and their support found their voice. The half finished with York defending desperately.

YM started the second period as if they had been given the “severe lecture”. They ran straight and hard and after only 3minutes centre Andrade ran through a wobbly defence and scored near the posts. This was converted (14-17).It would be nice to skim over the next 20 minutes, but in short it was pressure all the way from YM and York restricted to very limited ball which they found difficult to clear. YM’s Chapple scored a second try which was converted for a lead of 19-17. YM were cutting York’s defence to ribbons with some very poor tackling helping the home side. Chapple crossed again near the corner for an unconverted try. (24-17). York were now looking very tired and when Thomson retired hurt their effective tackling was further reduced.

York’s backs, taking advantage of a morsel of possession, again showed their handling ability but when the move broke down YM started another flowing movement which ended with no 7 Hodge going over in the corner. (29-17).With about 10 minutes to go, a YM knock on saw a good spell of York attacking and scrum half Atkin went over which Dawes converted (29-24). It was York’s fourth and bonus point try and almost unbelievably brought the scores to within a single try. York’s tails came up and they began to believe the impossible. Awarded two penalties in quick succession, running the first was understandable, but with hindsight a kick, with the wind, towards the corner might have been a better option. As it was York themselves gave away a penalty and YM attacked, chipped forward and York were forced to concede a line out. From 5 yds out, YM forced their way over for yet another unconverted try. Final score (34-24)

Difficult to sum up. Not many will win at New Hey Road this season, but York will look back, having played so well for periods of the first half, as a win that maybe got away. Certainly their first up tackling let them down badly and as for the “restarts”!!!

Almost unbelievably York still retain a top spot in the league.