FIRST HALF DOMINANCE SEALS IT FOR YORK!

Although knocking-on from the West Park kick-off, York won the ensuing scrum and launched their first attack, which was halted. York win the loose ball and shape up to move the ball out wide but a short pass from their scrum-half to flanker Callum Simpson, sees him wrong foot the West Park defense as he breaks clear and round behind the posts for York's first try. Cameron Atkinson duly kicks the conversion. (0-7). York catch and drive from the West Park restart but knock-on. West Park wins their own scrum and amounts a series of drives and rucks. York run into touch as they try to clear their own half. With an ever increasing breeze getting up and blowing down the pitch, West Park find it hard to throw the ball in straight at lineouts. York twice opts for scrums, which they win. As York sustain an attack the ball goes down the line to Thomas Bullough, who steps inside his opposite number, round a covering defender, and inside the next before rounding their full-back to score. (0-12). York's third try follows quickly. York makes a clean catch of the West Park restart. A short pass to Chris Cambridge sees him run wide from within his own half and outpace the cover defense along the touchline before touching down behind the posts. Cameron Atkinson added the conversion. (0-19). West Park kick deep with the restart. York lay the ball back and put up a long chasing kick. West Park is caught in possession and is penalised for not releasing the ball. York kicks for touch deep into West Park territory but then get penalised at the lineout. West Park kicks clear to halfway. York set up a driving maul from the lineout, making a good 20 meters before progress is halted. York win the ensuing scrum, break blind and put winger William Emery away in the corner but with no West Park cover he runs round behind the posts before touching down. Ben Williams adds the conversion. (0-26). York knock-on from the West Park restart. West Park wins the ensuing scrum and breaks blind to amount their first serious attack. West Park are forced into touch but then win the York lineout, setting up a drive that takes them to the York line. York wins the defensive scrum and kick clear to halfway where they are awarded a penalty. York set up a driving maul but is penalised. West Park run the ball but are forced into touch. West Park wins the York lineout but, as they try to move the ball wide, their attack breaks down. York is quicker to the loose ball as Thomas Bullough breaks away for his second try. Converted by Ben Williams. (0-33). A clean take of the West Park restart sees York attack immediately but they are forced into touch on the West Park 22. York wins the lineout but their attack breaks down. West Park counter attack and a sustained phase of solid driving and recycling the ball takes play deep into the York half. A break from the back of one such ruck sees their No8 clear to race 20 meters and touch down between the posts to open their account. (7-33). The York response is immediate and decisive. York follows up quickly their restart. As West Park take the ball cleanly and try to move the ball, the attack breaks down. York wins possession and drive but are held. As the ball is recycled for a second phase attack, another side-stepping run by centre Thomas Bullough sees him beat three players for a try between the posts. Ben Williams adds two points for the conversion followed by the whistle for half time. (7-40). Job effectively done.
HALF TIME : WEST PARK 7 YORK 40.

York kick-off into a stiffening breeze to restart the second half. The ball is caught in the wind taking it well away from its intended dropping zone and in front of West Park backs, who knock-on. The York pack is looking very solid as they win the scrum and the ball is moved wide for an attack that is only halted on the West Park line. York is penalised and West Park kicks clear to near halfway. West Park wins the lineout but York is through quickly to disrupt play. York gains possession and amounts an attack out wide. With a three-man overlap, York knock-on 5 meters short of the line and save West Park further embarrassment. West Park wins their defensive scrum and kick clear to halfway. York wins the lineout and is back on the attack. Interplay with forwards and backs sees Chris Cambridge break, run wide and the round behind the posts for Ben Williams to add an easy 2 points. (7-47). West Park still show plenty of grit as they catch York in possession from the restart. York win the ensuing scrum but as they try to run the ball West Park dislodge the ball in a tackle to keep play well into the York half. West Park win a scrum some 20 meters out and go blind, they break a York cover tackle to score wide out. (12-47). York's response is almost instantaneous, halted only by their restart kick being held by the wind and not carry a full 10 meters. West Park opts for a scrum back on the halfway line. York pushes them off their own ball and amounts an attack. West Park manage to halt but as play is switched for a second phase attack, Cameron Lynde steps inside his opposite number to score between the posts. (12-52). The wind is now playing a bigger part in the game as the West Park restart is carried over the York line to be touched down for a 22 meter drop-out. The wind again curls the ball away from its intend target, dropping it right into the hands of a West Park back. York defends well and secure possession only to knock-on as they try to run from defense. For a period of time York find themselves pinned back in their own half. Kicking into the wind gains them very little ground and handling errors inhibit them running from defense. West Park mount a series of attacks but York defense is solid. As York struggle to get back up field, their scrum, so strong up to now, starts to wheel and play becomes very untidy. York do eventually secure good possession on their own 22. As they break blind, the ball is switched back inside to number 8, George Gao. He outpaces the covering defenders before racing along the touchline from halfway and rounding behind the posts for a closing try. Thomas Bullough adds the conversion followed by the final whistle. (12-59).
All in all a good solid performance by York against a West Park team that worked hard and never gave up. York's superiority was dented only by the amount of rucked ball not adequately secured. In all other respects their pack dominated set pieces, mauls and showed their ability to run with the ball.
FULL TIME : WEST PARK 12 YORK 59.

Were the York players tired? Not a bit of it! Immediately after the game Andy Keyes from Leeds Carnegie put both them and West Park players through a very enjoyable and productive hour of coaching of the highest order.

Try Scorers:

Callum Simpson
Thomas Bullough (3)
Christopher Cambridge (2)
William Emery
Cameron Lynde
George Gao

Conversions:

Cameron Atkinson (2)
Ben Williams (4)
Thomas Bullough

Players Man of the Match:

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