York welcomed Heath to Clifton Park knowing that their visitors lowly league position should not be taken as an indication that their task today was going to be easy. Last season’s encounters were both won by the West Yorkshire side. And so it proved.

York won the toss and chose to play with the strong breeze at their backs, allowing them to put the early pressure on their visitors. As soon as the 5th minute George Davies slotted over a penalty from 30 metres...3 nil York. Heath responded from the kick off and for the next 5 minutes were camped in the York half, where they established scrum dominance but were unable to get points on the board.York managed to bring play into the Heath half and on 13 minutes were awarded a penalty, Davies pushing the attempt wide of the upright.

It wasn’t until the 21st minute that York managed to gain a foothold in the Heath half again. A penalty infringement allowing Davies to slot over from 35 metres…6 nil York.From the kick off York again forced play into the visitors half and again Heath were penalised, Davies this time just wide from 35 metres. An error strewn period then followed, with both sides making simple basic errors. York were maintaining territorial advantage and from a slick passing movement were able to put Hugh Nicholson over wide out, the conversion was missed....11 nil York. York maintained the pressure but were unable to add to their tally by half time.

Heath began the second half well using the wind to good advantage and were soon on the score sheet with a try after 6 min, the conversion missed 11…5 York.11minutes into the half the visitors received their first of 2 yellow cards for persistent offending. York’s subsequent kick for touch found waiting Heath hands, slick handling, a kick ahead and try under the posts meant the following conversion had Heath 11…12 ahead.York brought play back into the Heath half and the ensuing penalty by Davies gave York the lead again....14-12. A further error strewn period followed with both sides guilty, why is it that giving and receiving of passes has become such a difficult skill??

York to their credit were now more dominant and with pressure being brought to bear on the Heath line, on the 33rd minute,Toby Atkin managed to dart over wide out. Davies slotting an excellent conversion into the wind.York now appeared to have the bit between their teeth, Atkin easily York’s man of the match slipped the short pass to Bates who broke infield, to feed Nicholson for his 2nd try of the afternoon on 38 minutes. The difficult conversion went wide...26-12

The game appeared out of sight but Heath were now restored to 15 men after their 2nd sin bin and to their credit came straight back at York. Bad defence allowing Heath to score a converted try under the posts 26…19.The game restarted, but York managed to hold out for what most agreed was a deserved but uninspiring win.

York still need to fire on all cylinders this season, however they do continue to grind out the results and maintain a challenge at the top of Yorkshire one. Improvement will be needed if this challenge is to continue with difficult games coming in the coming weeks.