Huddersfield YMCA 29 v 18 York
Saturday 29th September 2012.
I would be interested to know if the YM ground at Salendine Nook is at the highest altitude of all the grounds in Yorkshire 1. The strong cross field wind saw York supporters wrapping up whilst the locals appeared to be reaching for the sun block. The crowd was impregnated with highly vocal touchline referees who appeared to prefer to deride the referee at every opportunity rather than get behind what on the face of seems to be a side that has real promotion credentials.
The game would be close for a long time into the second half but York’s flaky defence and YM’s aggressive defence would ultimately be the deciding factors in this game.
The pattern of the game would see YM pressurising the York possession at every opportunity, Tom Boyle the York scrum half, must have thought he had a congenital twin in YM scrumhalf Simon Wilson, every time he laid hands on the ball at back of the ruck Wilson or his counterparts were all over him like a rash and although the YM side were fitter and quicker than their opponents non had any genetic similarities to Usain Bolt. A combination of York forwards and the referee failing to protect Boyle would see the pressure passed down the line most every time York tried to move the ball.
On 10 minutes such pressure saw a poor kick from Cakaunitabua fail to find touch and as YM countered a dropped ball was hacked ahead into the York 22. The York outside backs were in the final stages of eeny, meeny, miny, mo when YM number 8 further hacked on gathered and scored the first try of the game. A score from nowhere. The conversion was missed.
After 14 minutes a good break by Eddie Bradshaw down the left wing took York into YM territory, York recycled the ball well taking it on through the forwards. YM were penalised for an offence at the breakdown and York went to the corner. A good catch and drive saw YM attempt to drop the York maul twice, the referee playing a good advantage which saw York continue with the drive for Darren Rutherford score. Conversion missed 5 – 5.
York were now on the front foot and twice saw good field position coughed up to relieving penalties the first for dissent at what should have been a defensive 5 metre line out the second minutes later when Bates carried the ball strongly to offload to Cakaunitabua who was hauled down 5 metres from the YM line, he was then penalised for holding on as his support failed to get to him.
York would waste a couple of further opportunities to fully test the Huddersfield back field defence when firstly a Hugh Nicholson hack ahead with open field in front of him skewed into touch and a good counter attack from a poor Huddersfield kick saw Bradshaw pass over Cakaunitabua head into the crowd with only the last defender to beat.
On 37 minutes York are penalised for holding on in the middle of the pitch. The lively Wilson tapped and went penetrating deep into the York midfield before offloading to Ben Hill who was the beneficiary of some flimsy tackle attempts before scoring under the York posts. 12 – 5.
Ben Johnson would add a penalty to York tally before half time. 12 – 8.
The second half saw a change in tactics by the YM forwards who started to compete at the breakdown through counter rucking at every opportunity. York were slow to react to this and were turned over a number of times.
YM were the first to go close in the second half after York were penalised for truck and trailer offence at the line out. YM moved the ball quickly and made a break through the midfield, it was only a text book try saving tackle by Atkinson initially and then by Enslin on his own line saved York on this occasion.
After 14 minutes of the second half York managed to build some pressure and field position, following a catch and drive from the York pack on the YM 22 metre line, York moved the ball to Ben Johnson who was forced back inside by the YM midfield rush defence. Johnson dropped an excellent goal with his left foot to put York 1 point behind. 12 – 11.
Huddersfield were to go further ahead after 20 minutes when good pressure at the scrummage by the York pack saw the way forward on the open side of the field blocked by advancing York defence. Ed Barber YM inside centre went blind around the rear of his forwards to find the blindside defence of York asleep, YM scored in the corner. 17-11.
York were to gift another try to YM when their 8 picked and went blind from a YM scrum just outside their own 22 metre line, after he tip toed around the dozing York blindside defence he released Wilson and Stead who executed a perfect 2 on 1 for Stead to run 50 yards to the York try line. 22–11.
So having fought hard to get themselves back into the game, York was effectively out of it. This was further compounded deep into the second half when Ed Barber had the freedom of the park and ran past two hapless defensive attempts to score under the posts. This was converted 29-11. This score line flattered Huddersfield as the game was a lot closer than that score depicted. So perhaps it was fitting that York scored through good forward pressure with the last play of the game when Will Enslin crashed over from short range. Johnson converted 29- 18 the final score.
In summary YM were fitter and quicker than their York counterparts in the forwards which countered their lack of size. They were strong in the midfield defence and played the margins and the referee with their rush defence well. York’s defence was weak and ponderous on occasions and if you go away and gift the opposition 4 tries you can only expect one outcome.

Steve Maud