30th September Yorks first home game of the season - York bt Ripon 32-0

A 10:30am kick-off with the weather mild, but blustery and overcast. The game was played on the most northerly pitch, the team’s usual south-side playing field swimming in 6-8 feet of floodwater from the River Ouse. Despite cancelled training earlier in the week due to the heavy rains and the absence of some key players in both the forwards and the backs (missed you Dan and Harrison!) there was some improvement in the general performance. Herbie performed well on his debut, Tommo’s impact was most welcome on his return after several weeks away and there were a number of memorable highlights.

The first score came soon after the kick off with York playing right to left. After a short period of pressure on the right side, initially through James B and then through York’s forward line, Zak kept his feet well in the tackle and fed Chris Nelson at pace from the wing for the try. The conversion, though of good length, dropped to the right of the posts in the difficult conditions. York’s second came from Adam on one of his typically unstoppable drives, once more on the right side, 10-0 to York. Despite steady Ripon pressing and some good periods of possession they were not allowed to get into any kind of rhythm, York maintaining relentless pressure at the breakdown and showing greater flare and incisiveness around the back of the scrum (Bosy, Oscar, Adam) and in their back line (Sam, Bosy, Jack, et al).

York’s third try was perhaps their best and was very well deserved by Foxy. Unlucky to be held up short on his first attempt down the left wing after being released by Charlie on the 22, he repeated the exercise shortly afterwards, this time with a successful dive at full stretch over the line following an excellently worked move from a Ripon penalty – textbook stuff. Following a good take from the penalty close to halfway in the centre of the field, Charlie made good ground, drawing the tackles before feeding Sam Young left. The same was repeated by Sam and then Bosy in rapid succession to give Foxy his half chance – athletically taken, 15-0 to York. Conversion short. Half time.

The second half continued much like the first half with heavy York pressure disrupting Ripon’s shape and forcing the errors. Despite this, York were also guilty of handling errors and were repeatedly penalized. Two highlights of the second half came early on, first with Dobbo’s charge down, which released Charlie for an oh-so-nearly-but-for-a foot-out try on the left and, soon after, Jack’s well taken conversion from Adam’s second try of the match running over from ball fed inside on the left. York leading 22-0.

After a brief Ripon rally up the field, York resumed their dominance with some attractive play down both wings from both Harry T and Alfie before Adam took his hat trick from a well-controlled York scrum on the left. Score: 27-0 after the conversion was pulled just left. York’s final try came from a kick by Jack down the right side which Charlie and Harry T followed up well to set up Bosy for a typically bull-dozing try left of centre. The match finished 32-0.

Performances? Excellent work by York’s pack – unsung effort and solid as ever from the front five, heroics from all involved on the flanks and Adam at No.8. Well played Sam on his debut at scrum half and good tempo and rhythm was maintained by the centres. Good to hear Tommo’s rallying cries from the back line in the second half and great to see some fine kicking from open play by Jack throughout the match. Well played all – team effort. There was little change in the shape or tempo throughout the match despite numerous changes at and around half time to give all a play; that says a lot.

(And 11 hours after the final whistle, Europe won the Ryder Cup in one of the most impressive fightbacks of the modern era to top an absolutely awesome year of sport.)