York RUFC 40 v Rossendale RUFC 5

Match Report by Simon Pickles

York hosted Rossendale at Clifton Park in match week four of the Premier Division North. York have had two tough away losses and one convincing home win so far this season. Rossendale have recorded a home win against Lymm, an away loss to Blackburn and an abandoned match. Both teams had five league points going into the fixture. The weather was dry and still with white cloud cover.Shane Goulding was unavailable at No 8 so Luke Stockton anchored the York scrum.Tom Hicks joined Chris Fox in the second-row with Archie Fothergill starting at blind-side flanker. Jonty Atkinson played at inside-centre with George Davies at full-back. Sam Taylor was on the wing.

Both teams tested the other to open the match. The opposing forward packs were both experienced and made their tackles. The fly-half for York, Declan Cusack, mixed his passing with accurate kicks out of hand. He targeted Sam Elliott on the open-side wing. Rossendale scored first. Full-back, Lewis Allen, was involved in a flowing back-line move that he finished. He chipped the ball over the York defence and touched it down. York replied quickly. After an attacking scrum they moved the back quickly through their back-line. Space was created for Sam Elliott who gathered and ran it in.

The York set-piece was becoming dominant and gaining territory. The front row of John Aikman, Ross White and Will Scholey were involved in a squeezed scrummage that pushed Rossendale back over their own try-line. A penalty try with a free conversion was awarded. Rossendale were still dangerous. Their try scorer, Lewis Allen and centre, Curtis Strong broke out of their own half. It was York’s scrambling defence with a covering tackle by Sam Taylor that prevented a second ‘Ross’ try. The visitors had opportunities to score before half-time but York managed to withstand the open attack. Half time score 14-5.

It was a close game with twenty minutes remaining but York were more secure. Three defenders were unable to prevent Sam Elliott from getting his second try of the game. Tom Hicks accelerated and scored from ten metres out to secure York’s four-try bonus point.
Rossendale had aggression in the tackle throughout the game but with ten minutes remaining they were beaten. Both Will Fordy and Sam Taylor found space to score tries which ballooned the final score.