Bridlington 14 v 29 York

Saturday 15th December 2012

By Steve Maud.

York travelled to Dukes Park on Saturday for the final leg of this year’s trilogy with Bridlington. With honours even, results wise at least, from the two previous encounters. York lost their home league game to a last minute try at Clifton Park and then knocked the current Yorkshire shield Holders out of the competition two weeks ago, again at Clifton Park. Recent form for both sides has also been in stark contrast, Bridlington started the season like a train whilst the spluttering start by York has been turned around by the side and the coaching staff seeing 6 straight victories in a row.
In truth this game was not much of spectacle for those who had made the effort to attend and support, the match must be close to the most penalised game of rugby I have ever had the misfortune to watch. Unfortunately the pee in the whistle of the referee only broke as he tried to bring the game to an end. The referee would show a total of 6 yellow cards during the game, 3 to each side, none for violent or foul play.

The first 18 minutes of the game saw York start the better of the two sides even though they were playing into the breeze, York were first to go close but were penalised for dropping their own driving maul from an attacking lineout deep in the Brid 22, when the line was about to be crossed, scratching your head? You should have been there.

But it was after 18 minutes and probably as many penalties, that Brid whilst attempting move the ball 40 metres out from their own posts, dropped the ball in the midfield, York were quickest to react and the ball was moved quickly to Eddie Bradshaw on the left wing who still had plenty to do when he stepped back inside to defeat the corner flagging defence and score under the posts. Matt Dudman converting 0 – 7.

On 23 minutes Brid turned the ball over again just outside their own 22, Dudman realising that no sweeper was in place, chipped the ball over the defensive line, Gareth Singleton appeared to be blocked as he went to gather the ball to score, however Brid scrambling defence took the ball from the field of play into their own in goal area before touching it down, giving York a 5 metre attacking scrum. The pack did their job and drove Brid back to within a metre of their line when Joe Maud picked and went from No8, a flat pass found Peter Martin on an unstoppable line and he crashed over under the posts for York’s second try. Dudman converted 0-14.

The next 20 minutes of the game was fairly unremarkable, littered with penalties and errors by both sides. But after 43 minutes on my watch and following a period of sustained period of Brid pressure, York appeared to have survived the onslaught when they were awarded a scrum 5 metres from their own line. The scrum went down on the opposite side to the ref, who awarded a penalty against York a quickly taken penalty saw Brid press hard again before Robinson forced his way over under the York posts, then converted his own try. 7 – 14. York missed a penalty kick and a further chance to extend their lead just before half time.
I am afraid the second half started very much the same as the first with penalties being conceded by both sides in the contact area and both teams struggling with the referee’s interpretation of the laws around the ruck.

After 58 minutes York threw into the own line just inside the Bridlington half. Chris Fox who was imperious at the line out all day released off the top ball. A flat pass found Will Enslin crashing through the Brid midfield defence before being chopped down on the Brid 22 metre line. The ball was moved quickly back to the blindside wing and when Gareth Singleton chipped over the top, loud groans of discontent by the York supporters, were replaced by cheers of congratulations as Singleton managed to outpace the Brid defenders and ground the ball for York’s third and probably deciding score. Conversion missed. 7 – 19.

With 75 minutes played a clearing kick by Brid was fielded by York on the half way line. Enslin who been lurking and looking for such an opportunity, received the ball and was brought down 30 metres out, a pop pass from the floor was gathered by Maud who smashed into the covering Brid defence, Singleton cleared out strongly above the ball and Dudman was on hand to scoop the ball up, tip toe through the debris and race in at the corner for the bonus point try. Conversion missed. 7 – 24.

After 86 minutes of play York took a Brid scrum against the head on their own 22. As Hargreaves went to move the ball it was knocked out of his hands Faba the Brid tight head prop was on hand to gather the ball and score under the York posts. Converted 14 – 24.
The last play of the game saw Sam Portrykus break through the Brid midfield defence with a strong run, quick front foot ball saw Singleton go close in the corner, before showing good strength to resist the attentions of 3 Brid defenders,as the ball was moved back inside Will Enslin was in place to crash over to complete the scoring. 14 – 29.

So York go into the Christmas break in good spirits, if they can regain their momentum early in the New Year in the home fixture against Dinnington, then the January fixtures could well define their season. Hopefully Alex Nixon will be back after injury and Messer’s Bass and Clegg will be pleased to hear that Nick Stokes will be pressing hard for selection.