Yet again a much changed team [with further changes when 4 players withdrew after Tuesdays selection] took to the field to face a Bees team intent on gaining revenge for the beating inflicted on them earlier in the season at Clifton Park. The forecasted rain did not appear until very late in the match, which was fortunate for the travelling York supporters, who by the final whistle had witnessed a fairly disappointing defeat.

However to the match itself, in grey but dry conditions York kicked off and the Bees collected well and immediately set about their game plan which was clearly to spread the ball quickly with driving support play. York were basically defending well but constantly, for the first ten minutes when scrum half Atkin was penalised in or around a maul which York seemed to be winning. Bees No 9 Taylor converted the relatively easy kick. (3-0) From the restart, the Bees again spread the ball well and when York were penalised for not rolling away, No 9 Taylor converted. (6-0) . When York were finally awarded a penalty, Hessay found a lovely touch, only for the ensuing lineout to be lost. Losing lineouts was unfortunately to be a recurring theme. The game however was becoming more balanced with the rejigged scrum settling down and some useful tactical kicking by Hessay. However, the Bees continued to try to run good ball and finally the York tackling failed and No 12 Roguski got through under the posts for a try converted by Taylor. ( 13-0) Now York began to show their resolve and they showed attacking intent with Davies and Hodges prominent and when the Bees were penalised on the ground, Hessay took the points. (13-3). Hessay collected the restart and found an excellent touch which initiated some strong York attacking. Hodges was stopped just short and the Bees were again penalised. York opted for the scrum and exerted some serious pressure before Goulding burst through the cover tackle and scored under the posts. Hessay converted. (13-10).From the restart and resultant lineout, there followed some loose play in which York were again penalised. The quick tap put York’s defence under pressure and with the last play of the half, the Bees crossed wide out for a try almost against the run of play. It was duly converted. (20-10).

The second half began with both sides still committed to the attacking game but errors were beginning to creep in. Knock ons, forward passes, lost lineouts etc., led to a period of disjointed action, but after some 10/15 minutes York lost Rutherford with a yellow card for pulling down a maul. The extra man encouraged the home side to use a line out drive into the corner where a well structured try ensued but not converted (25-10). At this point it was clear that frustration was building in the York minds regarding knock ons not spotted, offsides etc., but in truth the pressure being applied by the home side was leading to an inevitable imbalance of penalties. It was no surprise therefore when the York defence buckled and the Bees scored again under the posted for a converted try. (32-10). With Rutherford back, the York scrum began to exert a dominance which in turn saw a curious last ten minutes as York opted three times for scrum penalties, rather than kicking to the corners. This also saw the home side No 6 sin binned, but even with that numerical advantage, York could not breach the home line although with the very last move of the game, it took an unfortunate knock on 2 yards out to deny them.

This was a disappointing result, but in truth this was very much a scratch York side. The fact that they could come to the home of one of the better league sides and battle as they did speaks volumes for their guts and team spirit.