York 57 v 17 Heath.
Saturday 20th October 2012
By Steve Maud.
Both teams who took to the field on Saturday had had inauspicious starts to the season as both had played 7 and lost 5 so far. So on form and taking into account recent encounters between the two sides, you could be forgiven for thinking this would be another close encounter for York. In truth at last the performance matched the personnel and the York crowd were treated to some exhilarating open rugby that would see York score 9 tries to Heath’s 3.
York started well from the start dominating field position and with Heath unable to get out of their own 22 the try fest began after 7 minutes with a well-executed catch and drive from a lineout deep in the Heath 22. Ably finished by Steve Kerr and converted by Ben Johnson. 7 – 0.
But as before York seemed to invite Heath back into the game by some midfield handling errors and a couple of penalties at the breakdown. Heath enjoyed their only dominant period of the game and it took a couple of stoic tackles by Singleton to keep them at bay as they pressured the York line. Inevitably though on 18 minutes Montgomery (Heath No.8) crashed over for a deserved try. 7 – 5.
On 23 minutes York showed real ambition running the ball from deep inside their own 22. Eddie Bradshaw who was outstanding all day found the space on the outside after Heath’s defence had set to receive a clearing kick, which never came. Bradshaw linked with Nixon before taking the ball back from him to outpace the Heath back three and to score under the posts. Converted by Johnson 14 – 5.
York came to life and the confidence, aggression and accuracy that had been missing in recent performances was back in abundance. Another excellent piece of defensive work by Singleton on 34 minutes saw him halt what was a rare attacking excursion by Heath on the York 22. Singleton turned the ball over and the counter attack was on, great support and handling saw Alex Nixon go clear to score. 19 – 5 Conversion missed.
With half time beckoning York concentration wandered and after turning the ball over on the Heath 22 an outstanding individual effort by Heath wing Thackray saw him step time and again against the drift covering tackling to score and give Heath a lifeline just before half time. 19 – 10.
The second half was a good as a York performance that has been seen for a good while as the combinations gelled all over the park. Will Enslin the human wrecking ball came off the bench and smashed his way through the Heath midfield defence time and again, as York enjoyed quick ruck ball, Matt Hargreaves and Ben Johnson released the backs and some outstanding attacking play saw some desperate Heath defending. They hung on but on 60 minutes a second well executed catch and drive from an attacking lineout deep in Heath’s 22 saw Kerr bag his second of the day. The conversion was missed but this score would see the floodgates open as the expansive attacking game of York overwhelmed Heath. A yellow card for persistent infringements for Heath hooker Puttick on 65 minutes sealed their fate as York ran tries in through Billy Cakaunitabua, Andy Kay, Rich Roberts and Eddie Bradshaw before Heath scored a consolation try of their own on 80 minutes. Ben Johnson rounded of his best performance to date in the stand- off role with a try of his own in injury time.
From the restart with time up Steve Kerr showed why he is a tight five forward when his comical attempt to kick the ball dead from all of 5 metres from the touchline landed in the hands of a surprised Heath prop whose expert grubber kick to the York in goal was fielded by a scrambling Ben Johnson to save the blushes of his team mate. Final score York 57 – 17 Heath
York will need to maintain and improve on this performance if they are to take anything from what will be a tough encounter away at Ilkley next week. But at last the potential of the side has come to the fore and none of the York support could begrudge the entry fee, for what was a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby.