York travelled to Moortown for a pivotal game in the promotion race. The home side were unbeaten at home for two years, ironically York were the last side to win at Moss Valley. Moortown were in third place 13 point behind York and coming off a 5 game unbeaten run.

York kicked off and started the game at breakneck pace. Backs and forwards were combining well, after 6 minutes breaking from their 22 York went the length of the pitch with Shane Goulding scoring the try after a raking pass from Will Fordy opened up the home defence. Almost straight from the kick off York scored again, Chris Fox collected the ball passed to Dec who in turn put Cade Robinson through. Again the ball was recycled quickly allowing Shane to collect his second try with Dec adding the conversion. The pressure on Moortown was unrelenting and after 15 minutes Declan Cusack added a penalty to take York into a 15-0 lead. Many sides would have buckled in response to York’s start but not Moortown. After 18 minutes they grabbed an interception try to bring them back into the game. The next 15 minutes were controlled by Moortown’s powerful running from Hart-Fisher and Moorby backed up by intelligent kicking from Crossland, was allowing Moortown to play in York’s half. It was no surprise when Moortown added a second try with Crossland adding a difficult conversion 14-15 after 30 mins. This galvanised York, fowards starting to go through some good phased possession, Will Scholey, Cade Robinson and Luke Stockton were punching holes in the Moortown defence. With Moortown on the back foot a lovely delayed pass from Dec Cusack opened up Moortown and Dyson-Dent was on hand to finish off another flowing move. Dec added the conversion to take York into a 14-22 half time lead. Could the second half match the first.

As Moortown kicked off, the York support felt the next score was crucial. York collected the kick off and controlled the ball through their forwards working their way up the pitch. As the ball went to the backs Sam Forbes broke through passing to Rob Hodges who carried well before Will Fordy finished off another raking York attack. Declan Cusack added the conversion. Moortown came straight back at York forcing a succession of scrum penalties, eventually the ball was spread wide through the backs for Moortown to score in the corner, Crossland adding another difficult conversion taking the score to 21-29 after 50mins. In a pulsating game York were the next to score. Dec jinked his way past several defenders creating space for Toby Atkin to score, with the conversion missed, York held a 13 point lead. The game now settled into a midfield battle with defences on top. The final score went to Moortown through a Crossland penalty making the final score 34-24 to York. This was an excellent game of Rugby between 2 very good teams.

Moortown probably deserved a bonus point and with Cleckheaton losing at home to Pocklington, York are now 16 points clear at the top. Coronavirus permitting, a home win against West Hartlepool next week would clinch the league title. If Moortown can repeat their performance of yesterday, they have every chance of catching Cleckheaton for second place and a play off.