York secured victory in their last home game of the campaign. After a disappointing display in the game at Middlesbrough back in December, the York team were eager to right the wrong and secure both the victory and better performance. The two try win gave the large home crowd their final instalment of rugby at Clifton Park this season and allowed the players to sign off in a positive manner.

The strong wind was to play a role throughout the game and York started the first half playing uphill but with the breeze at their backs. From the kick-off York secured good possession and some neat clearing at the breakdown was rewarded as the referee penalised the visitors for coming over the top. Josh Britland on kicking duties from his less familiar role of fullback, stepped up and converted to put York 3 – 0 up.

Middlesbrough then enjoyed a number of phases of possession as they worked downfield but York managed to keep them out; Meredith in particular tackling well. From a turnover York cleared their lines via the boot of Ben Johnson playing at 10. A good chase allowed York to maintain field position and secure the ball from a lineout. A quick tap down from Fox gave centre Potrykus the ball on the gain-line and quick work from supporting teammates drew a second penalty which Britland scored. York 6, Middlesbrough 0.

From the re-start York moved the ball wide to the bullocking winger Goulding via Bates. Unfortunately caught by the touchline, Goulding had made good ground, showing his presence and ability to burst through at least the first tackle. From the lineout the visitors enjoyed another period of possession, recycling the ball quickly and ultimately drawing a penalty which was converted to close the scores to 6 – 3. Middlesbrough looked at their most threatening playing with pace and tying the York defenders.

Both teams wrestled to maintain control, with possession passing back and forth as neither team could secure multiple phases (or ball from their own scrum). As York tried to run the ball out of their 22, the deceptively strong Middlesbrough outside centre ripped the ball from another York player. What should have been ‘backs against the wall’ time turned out to be the build up to York’s first try; the Middlesbrough players were unable to control the ball as they built from the turnover and the strong wind pushed the ball back towards their own half. A comedy of errors allowed Charlie Nicholson to collect the ball just inside the Middlesbrough half and canter through to score. The conversion missed, York still had a healthy lead to go into the half time break; 11 – 3.

The second half started with much the same ‘looseness’ from both sides. Neither side being able to secure ball from their own restarts; York stealing Middlesbrough’s lineout ball but then being unable to secure ball at the base of their own scrum. York were then reduced to 14 men as Marcus Britland was sent to the bin after a rather petulant scuffle. During the next 10 minutes, the York side managed to hold out the visitors and keep the two score margin.

With York back up to a full complement of players, a well set scrum powered through the Middlesbrough eight and drew a penalty 25 meters out. A quick tap allowed York to move the ball open to the right and then back to the left. From the third phase Goulding cut an excellent line off his wing and burst through for a well-deserved try. Josh Britland added the conversion to make the score 18 – 3.

The final 10 minutes saw both sides push for additional points but with little success. The Middlesbrough right winger showed good pace during a number of attacks but ultimately the wind made Middlesbrough’s handling look less than effective. York managed to close the game out for the win, getting revenge for the defeat at Middlesbrough earlier in the season.

The win for York will hopefully help to secure 3rd place, keeping Middlesbrough in 4th spot. Next week’s long trip to North Ribblesdale will be a test as the North Rib home team will be a very different team to that which visited York for the first league game of the season. The players, coaching team and supporters will be hoping that they can sign off in style, taking the victory on the road and finishing in the top three.