Match Report by Huw Kane.

Billingham was always anticipated to be a tough encounter for a newly promoted York side. After an early penalty miss by York, Billingham demonstrated their credentials for the top three positions with competent set piece play that was significantly enhanced by the pace and precision of their back line and the support of their back five in a firecracker of a first half that saw Billingham rack up four tries to York’s one in a game where initially at least, York’s defensive line speed wasn’t fast enough to prevent the Billingham back division executing some great lines of running that generally found the gap or the half shoulder.

Their first try came after only 8 minutes. Elliott Husband at full-back for Billingham returned York’s drop out from under the posts to set up second phase in the centre of the field about 30 m out. Quick recycling and swift ball to the left found winger Shaun McCartney with space to get over the line in the corner despite the attention of Sam Elliot. It wasn’t all one-way traffic. York came back strongly with a break by Will Fordy recognising the mis-match in front of him to round his man and feed Ben Dent who carried strongly into the Billingham half. Good support play and direct lines of running took York to within inches of the line where Toby Atkin was held short and deemed to knock on in the act of placing the ball over the Billingham line.

Billingham’s second try came from a sublime angle run by centre Luke Wilson taking a short ball from prop forward Kerion Clark about 15 m out cutting through the York defensive line like a knife through butter to go over almost untouched to the right of the posts.
Following an injury to Dan Coe, replaced by Kyle Consterdine at tight head, York took the game back into the Billingham 22 with strong running from the centres. Solid scrum ball from York following the Billingham knock on was moved quickly to the right to find Sam Elliot with space on the wing to pass to George Davies who went over in the corner. York still in the game at 14-5. Billingham went over for two more tries before half time and with their kicker on fire, a healthy 28-5 lead.

Straight after the restart, Billingham struck again. A steal in the loose by No.7, Nathan Myers, who seemed to be everywhere by this stage, allowed Billingham to move the ball swiftly left then right to cross the line again and extend their lead.It felt to some like it might be a long afternoon but York had other ideas in the second half. Improved defensive line speed nullified the impact of the Billingham runners who, with less space, found it difficult to get beyond the tackle line. Ben Dent led the tackling with some solid hits in the middle of the field and pulled off a try saving tackle towards the end of the game that wouldn’t have been out of place at Twickenham.

York looked more lively and were starting to make the pressure tell and run some lines of their own. Liam Hessay, on for Cusack, was distributing well. Second row Chris Fox, having his usual solid game up front, decided to get in on the act by running a line cutting left to right that enabled him to brush past the Billingham tight head to find open field in front of him. He stretched his legs and ran gazelle-like the 35 m to the Billingham line. Further pressure saw a half break from Liam Hessay, good hands found Sam Elliot who showed his pace to take the ball to within 10m of the Billingham line before feeding back inside to Archie Fothergill, (on for the injured Luke Stockton) whose reward for his hard work to make the support line was a try in the right hand corner.

The first half may have seemed a little one sided, but five tries to three at full time reflects a game that was closer. York should not be disappointed. Billingham were a good side and deserve their third place in the table this weekend.