York 27 v 13 Scarborough

Saturday 8th December 2012

By Steve Maud.

November has been a very good month for York seeing 4 straight league wins which has put them towards the right end of the table. These together with a good home win last week in the Shield against Bridlington means that York have started to turn their season around. Today’s rearranged fixture from Scarborough to Clifton Park gave them a further opportunity to build on their recent momentum.
It was a cold afternoon but conditions at Clifton Park were good. York started the game well re-gathering their own kick off and keeping possession. A good driving maul saw them advance powerfully into the Scarborough 22, when the York forwards released the ball the Scarborough defence was tested both sides of the field before good quick handling saw Alex Nixon crash over after 3 minutes from close range for the first score of the game. Conversion missed 5 – 0.
From the restart York coughed up the ball and Scarborough pressed hard, but good organised defence kept them at bay. York eventually cleared their line. York were attempting to play ambitious open rugby, but too often their accuracy let them down.
On 12 minutes following a York box kick Scarborough gathered the ball on the York 40 metre line and moved it wide, their inside centre Ratcliffe noticed that that York had no sweeper in place, he then put an excellent grubber kick through the York defensive line, that he re-collected himself and scored next to York posts. Converted 5 – 7.
On 15 minutes York were lucky not to go further behind but again it was their own error that Scarborough seized upon, a miss-placed pass in the midfield backs was intercepted and Jeffrey was through on the York line it was only excellent work by Billy Cakaunitabua covering from his wing, which saw him firstly chase down the Scarborough player and eventually tackle him 5 yards from the York line, Scarborough being penalised for holding on in the tackle after further great work above the ball by Cakaunitabua.
York were trying to play too much rugby in the wrong areas of the field and on 17 minutes after Bradshaw was turned over on his own 22, Kirker was penalised for failing to roll away from the tackle. Stewart kicking the penalty from directly in front of the posts to extend Scarborough’s lead to 5 – 10.
The next 15 minutes saw York pressure building with firstly a good move down the blindside, where Nixon outpaced the Scarborough defence, his kick ahead went into the Scarborough in goal area, only for the bounce of the ball to initially beat his chase and then the following up Cakaunitabua. Nixon would go close again shortly afterwards, but it was a solid tackle that held him out a yard short
York went close again from a 5 metre scrum and as Scarborough were being marched back to their own line the ball somehow the ball squirted out from Will Enslin’s feet , Matty Hargreaves was the first to react but was penalised for holding on a metre out from the Scarborough line.
The Scarborough clearing penalty took them to the half way and then a clever kick from Stewart took York deep into their on 22. At the lineout, Scarborough jumped early and York were awarded a free kick, they tapped and went from their own 5 metre line, ambitious in deed as they knocked on their own 22 and then they were penalised for in at the side of the resultant ruck. This presented Ratcliffe with another kicking opportunity to extend Scarborough’s lead which he took. 5 – 13.
With 40 minutes played York again re-gathered their kick off and following a good half break by Joe Kirker which took York into the Scarborough 22. York then went close firstly by Joe Maud and secondly by Will Enslin before good quick hands put Gareth Singleton in at the corner to score. Conversion missed 10 – 13 half time score.
York went on to dominate the second half and Scarborough had no answer to the power of the York tight five and the ball carrying of Enslin and Maud in particular. York was still trying to move the ball at every opportunity.
After 52 minutes York again missed their pass in the midfield on their own 40 metre line and a Scarborough hack ahead saw Billy Cakaunitabua collect the ball 5 metres from his own line and facing his own posts, with Scarborough chasers bearing down on him, his impersonation of Harry Houdini left the Scarborough defence in tatters as he firstly beat the initial chasers then their second line of defence before striking straight up the middle of the pitch, as he hit the half way he found his support and Gareth Singleton finished off the play of the game by outpacing and handing off the last two Scarborough defenders to score his second and York’s third try of the game. Conversion missed 15 – 13. York were starting to go through the gears and on 57 minutes had Eddie Bradshaw found his support instead of the last defender York would have been virtually out of sight. This was following the best piece of team play of the game. Bradshaw was brought down 10 metres out but as York piled forward Scarborough killed the ball at the ruck, conceded a penalty and lost a player to the sin bin. York went to the corner and a well- constructed catch and drive was illegally dropped twice but with the referee playing a good advantage the Scarborough defence succumbed and Matt Dudman who was on the pitch at scrum half, from off the bench, scored in the corner. Conversion missed 20 – 13.
The final score of the game came after 68 minutes when a good kick ahead by Matt Dudman saw Scarborough try to bring the ball out of their 22. A solid tackle saw the ball go to ground which Joe Maud was on hand to gather and outsprint the Scarborough defence from 30 metres. This time Dudman did convert for a 27 – 13 lead. It was after Maud had scored that Cutino (Scarborough prop)took his frustration out on an advertising hoarding behind the posts, by putting his foot through it, he received 10 minutes in the sin bin for his trouble as well as no doubt, a bill for Scarborough RUFC to cover the repairs. The final score York 27 – 13 Scarborough.