Solid teamwork wins it for York in surreal match!

York kicked off in near perfect conditions. Ionians caught the ball well and set up an attacking movement. As the York tackles went in, the ball became loose. York hands were quicker to the ball and they set up a forward drive, which took play right up into Ionians 22 before it was held. York retained possession and drove again as the maul fragmented; Rhys Whitby broke loose and forced his way over for an early opening try. A superb kick from a long way out saw Cameron Atkinson add the conversion. (0-7). York knocked-on from the Ionians restart giving them a scrum which they won. As York disrupted their attack, a clash of heads between two Ionians players halted play and necessitated one of them, their prop, having to leave the field, unable to return for the remainder of the game. York takes the game back up into Ionians 22 but concede a penalty. Ionians run the ball but the hard tackling backs dislodge the ball. Chris Cambridge takes a short pass and sets off on one his wide, arcing runs, which are becoming his trademark. He runs wide of the covering defenders and lengthens his stride along the touchline as he heads for the corner. Unfortunately the slightest of nudges by the Ionians full back causes him to put a foot in touch. From the Ionians line York are awarded a scrum. This is the first of what would become uncontested scrums that were to figure throughout the remainder of the game. With an extra man now, York should have increased their tally as the ball was moved wide but the ball was dropped on the Ionians line for them to touch down for a 22 dropout. Ionians took the kick quickly, too quickly; it caught both sides totally unawares as the ball rolled up field and into the York half. Racing back, York were quicker to the ball and set up a counter attack, exploiting defensive gaps left by Ionians. A try looker certain on the wing but An Ionians defender got across just in time. As the ball went to ground, however, it was Callum Simpson, up in support as usual, who got his hands on the ball and sprinted over from a few meters out. (0-12). Ionians kick deep for the restart and York build an attack from deep. York wins a penalty as their winger is taken out with a high tackle. York run the ball and play is taken back into Ionians half. A knock-on by York allows Ionians to take the ball from their uncontested scrum and counter attack. They make a good break but are forced into touch near the York 22. It is a York lineout but Ionians make a clean catch, break straight through the York line and race some 25 meters to score totally against the run of play. (7-12). York resume their attacking prowess from the restart and win a scrum as Ionians knock-on. Ionians defend well as York moves the ball wide. Uncontested scrums do not give York the forward driving momentum that would put Ionians onto their back foot and Ionians come up quickly and solidly defend as York are penalised for handling in a ruck. Ionians clear their 22 for a while but York attack again. The attack is held temporarily but York recycle the ball and as the Ionians defense comes up quickly and flat, Cameron Atkinson put up a neat chip kick which he himself follows up, collects and touches down for a try. (7-17). York make a clean catch of the Ionians restart and set up a drive, only to be forced into touch. York are intent to make more of their dominance but at times become too eager. York take a clean catch of the Ionians line, run the ball wide and switch back again. As York rounds the last Ionians defender a high tackle halts him in his tracks. It was a bad tackle but done out of instinct rather than malice. York runs the ball from the tap penalty and again cross the Ionians line but fails to ground the ball properly. Ionians make a mess of their 22 dropout and it is scrum back to York on Ionians 22. York knock-on in their eagerness to attack and the referee blows for half time.
HALF TIME : HULL IONIANS 7 YORK 17.

Ionians restart the second half but are soon on the defensive as York mounts attack after attack. Dogged defense and uncontested scrums give Ionians some respite but they fail to get into the York half. Solid teamwork and interplay between forwards and backs are contributing to York's dominance. All too often, however, players decide to go it alone rather than offload to support players or cut back inside when they have an overlap outside. As York are held up on the Ionians line they win themselves a 5m scrum. They are not allowed to push in the scrum but as the ball breaks, York's number eight picks up and drives for the line. As he is held the ball is off loaded to Callum Simpson to cross for the touchdown. (7-22). Ionians restart with a long kick which York catch cleanly and return with interest. Ionians run from defense and look like making a break but a crunching tackle halts them in their tracks. Unfortunately the referee judges the player to have been in front of the kicker and thus offside. Ionians try to run the ball but are held. A York scrum, subsequent drive and maul takes York back up to the Ionians line. As the ball is channeled back it is Rhys Whitby who breaks free to drive over for his second try of the game. (7-27). The remaining few minutes sees York building yet another attack as play moves back towards the Ionians line. Ionians hold out as one York player after another attempts to force his way over their line. All too often slight of hand would have brought a certain try. The final whistle blows with York securely camped on the Ionians line.
FULL TIME : HULL IONIANS 7 YORK 27.

With the exception of a couple of great sole efforts, Ionians were never in the game. Uncontested scrums did make for a surreal game favoring Ionians defense and creating a situation that York, even with their extra man, found hard to capitalise upon. The final score did not fully reflect the dominance York held throughout. Although bodging many opportunities, York gave a very strong all round performance.

Try Scorers:

Rhys Whitby (2)
Callum Simpson (2)
Cameron Atkinson

Conversion:

Cameron Atkinson

Players Man of the Match:

Callum Simpson