By Janet Hepworth.

York starting with 4 changes from last week’s starting line up, ending up with all replacements on the field as forced changes. With a prop in the 2nd row and scrum half at 7.WELL DONE.

The M62 held up all the York party, players and spectators alike. Kick off delayed, till 14:30, thanks Brods and Ref.

York played up the infamous Brods slope in the 1st half. York started well, getting very close to the Brods line, with no reward. However York again conceded an early try, in the 6th minute, just left of the posts, extras being added.

York, still on the offensive, contesting well at the scrum, however indiscipline creeping into York’s game, giving away penalties and advantage. Brods, could take any advantage for their gifts, following a failed Brods attack, York run from their 22, Billy counter attacking up the left wing.
Brods strike again, York tackling not up to scratch, right winger in under the posts, Brods leading by 14 pts, 20 minutes gone.

Four minutes later, Billy is on his way again, to be foiled by a good tackle.
Hannibal coming off through injury and Joe Maud on.
York were attacking well, the backs inter passing well, Billy involved again, Joe Maud scoring wide out on the left, conversion missed.

York again losing out to in discipline, this time, Heppy handling on the floor, Chris Fox stealing the subsequent Brods line out, clearance made. Half time 14 – 5.

As the 1st half went on York played better, missing out a couple of times, Billy troubling Brods with his runs.

Five minutes into the second half, Joe Kirker scored wide on the right, after enterprise from Johnson, passing to Eddie Bradshaw, on to Billy, Kirker taking the final pass, conversion missed.

York now have all their subs on, Will Norris for Kay – leg injury, and Arran Thompson on for Kerr – neck and face injury from the high tackle, York penalty.
York’s revamped scrum performing well.

Another penalty, against York, for obstruction, Brods adding 3 more points on 23 minutes.

York did not give up, although 17 – 10 down, the game becoming very gripping. York were pressurising in the close play with good driving mauls, one of which lead to York’s 3rd try, Joe Maud following his team mates over the line, at the back of a maul, 5 more points. 2 points behind 13 minutes to go.
Five minutes later Brods can’t add 3 points, after York are adjudged to have been boring in at the scrum, what a let off.

However Brods were not so lucky, 6 minutes later, follow good driving from York, Brods infringe in front of the posts, pressure on Johnson, can he give York the lead for the first time in the game, with his first kicking success of the game, yes, 17 – 18, 2 minutes to go.

York playing out the last minutes of the game deep in the Brods half, York mauling well, running the clock down, ball comes out to Matt Hargreaves, who then puts in a kick, sending the ball dead, end of game, WOW.

Well done York. The team showing good heart, working all the way to the end. The forward driving play being very good.

or Courtesy of a break down in communication

Old Brods 17 V 18 York

Saturday 17th November 2012.

By Steve Maud.

Both sides have had indifferent starts to the season but both have much in common as they have played 10, lost 6, won 4 in the league so far. York sat just above their hosts courtesy of one additional bonus point at the start of the day.
Brods had been enjoying a recent run of form winning 3 on the bounce up until last week home defeat by Heath. York’s form has been improving in recent times so a close encounter at Woodhead was on the cards.

A close encounter is what we got, York should have won this game comfortably, however again they squandered a number of chances in the Brods red zone and a massively disproportionate penalty count in favour of Brods meant the game would go right to the wire.
York started brightly playing up hill and into a light breeze, with the sun in their eyes (not often you can say that about the conditions at Woodhead). They controlled the ball from the kick off, driving up the pitch through the forwards, assisted by a couple of early infringements around the breakdown by the retreating Brods defence. Having got deep into the Brods 22 and without the home side touching the ball other than the kick off, York squandered the first of several try line opportunities when the usually reliable catch and drive from the lineout was well defended and then turned over as York held on in the tackle, Brods cleared. York had enjoyed possession almost exclusively for 7 minutes when from the resulting brods lineout on the 40 metre line, Brods first smashed the ball up through the centres and when they attacked back on the blindside, York had failed to fill the field with defenders, Fox was outpaced,Kirker missed his tackle and the Brods left wing Carter was under the posts which was converted. Brods 7 – 0 York.

York dominated the possession but resilient Brods mid field defence saw a number of passes go to ground and penalties conceded for holding on when isolated. York carried real threat when they got the ball wide but all too often sought the contact in the midfield, a game plan that the Brods defence were coping with comfortably. From such an encounter on 22 minutes, following a York forward pass, then an early engagement at the resultant scrum, the free kick was taken quickly by Georgiou the Brods scrum half, he found his outside centre Hartley on a good line, he splintered the York defence and after carrying the ball 30 yards released Briggs who switched back inside to outpace the York defence and score under the posts. Converted, Brods 14 – 0 York.

Shortly afterwards Lewis Hannibal (hamstring) left the field and Joe Maud came off the bench. On 32 minutes York were under the cosh with their own scrum just outside their own 22 going back at a rate of knots, as the ball squirted out Andy Kay manfully tidied up the scrappy ball which was moved quickly and wide to Billy Cakaunitabua on the left wing, a strong run with an equally powerful hand off on his opposite number saw him carry the ball to the Brods 22, as the last defender closed in he passed the ball back inside to Joe Maud who scored York’s first try. The conversion was missed Brods 14 – 5. York would squander a couple of good opportunities to improve on their score before half time but poor handling with the Brods defence out numbered, let them down again. 14 – 5 halftime score.
The breeze had stiffened,dark clouds had gathered, as York started the second half well, but again conceding relieving penalties allowing Brods to clear their lines.
On 44 minutes as Brods attempted to move the ball on their own 40 metre line, it went to ground, Ben Johnson was the quickest to react gathering the ball and spinning out of the tackle before breaking deep into Brods territory he found Bradshaw on the right wing who elected to cut back inside instead of backing his pace, he was brought down short of the line, but good follow up work from the ruck saw Steve Kerr crash over for York’s second try. Conversion missed. Brods 14 – York 10.

York lost two more players to injury Andy Kay (hamstring) and Kerr who took a high shot to the head that left him on the ground and out of the game. This meant some serious reshuffling in the pack. Norris came on at tight head, Hepworth dropped back into the second row and backs replacement Aaron Thompson came on as open-side wing forward, with Joe Maud reverting to no8. The real casualty was the York line out which had up to this point been dominating their own and making inroads on the Brods ball. Despite enjoying more possession Brods only got into York territory on two notable occasions in the second half, largely due to excellent defensive work, the first was on 64 minutes following a kick ahead, Cakaunitabua had gathered the ball and as he cut back inside and broke through the Brods midfield chasing defence he was penalised by the referee who saw an obstruction penalising York 30 metres out in front of their own posts. Brods accepted the early Christmas present to lead 17 – 10. The second time also resulted in a penalty being awarded on the York 40 metre line, this time the penalty kick went wide.

On 68 minutes as York applied the pressure and as the rain came down a hurried Brods clearance following another York try-line turnover, presented York with an attacking line out 7 metres out. This time York got it right, Maud got the ball at the rear of the driving maul and as the York forwards re-organised three times to overcome the determined Brods defence, Maud crossed for his second and York’s third try of the game. Conversion missed. 17 – 15

The gloom was gathering, for the Brods supporters, as eventually the York pressure told with 2 minutes to go. Foolishly Brods were penalised in front of their own posts on the 22 metre line for offside at the ruck. Ben Johnson converted the penalty to give York the lead for the first time in the game (when it mattered). 17 – 18. They comfortably saw out the rest of the game to earn a deserved victory.
A result that all at York would probably have settled for on Friday night. However if we can cut out the senseless penalties and kick our goals, this season could be far from over.