Dominant first half sufficient to see York progress to round 2!

On a bright sunny morning, high in the Pennines, York kicked off with a slight slope and breeze advantage. Brods were immediately pinned back in their own half as York secured a loose ball and set drives through a number of phases. As York took play to near Brods line it was Finlay Craig who broke free to dive over for an opening try, a very rare occurrence for a hooker but his post match smile told it all. (0-5). York made a clean catch of Brods restart, drove hard into the oncoming Brods forwards before going to ground and then moving the ball wide from the ensuing ruck. Brods just managed to stem the flow by forcing play into touch some 10 meters short of their line. Brods win their line but York is through quickly. Brods manage to retain possession in the maul and get the ball back for it to be kicked clear. York gathers the ball and attack. A second try is foiled by a knock-on. York pack pushes Brods off their ball in the set scrum. The ball is spun wide along the backs for winger, William Emery, to touch down unopposed. Oliver Leedham added the conversion. (0-12). York again take a clean catch of Brods restart and immediately run the ball. York penalised for not releasing the ball after having been tackled. Brods kick to touch in the York half to set up their first attacking position of the game. York, however, wins the lineout and kicks a long chaser up field. Brods get caught in possession and York rips the ball to set up a number of phased drives towards Brods line. From the final phase it is Tom Leonard who is on hand to take the final pass and to score. Ben Williams adds the conversion. (0-19). Fed up with having the restart driven back at them, Brods kick blind with a low running grubber kick which catches York not fully prepared. York is exposed on this blind side but Brods knock-on as they try to collect the ball. York win the scrum and a good, long clearance kick takes play back deep into Brods territory. From that position York make a beautiful break, which looks like going all the way to the line but Brods race back to halt the York attack just short. A deft slip pass, however, sees Callum Simpson on hand to maintain the movement and touch down for a fourth try. Oliver Leedham added the conversion. (0-26). York catch cleanly from the subsequent, more conventional, restart and the forwards set up their own attacking movement. Callum Simpson breaks clear and runs round behind the posts for Oliver Leedham to add the conversion. (0-33). York are totally dominant at this stage and capable of scoring at will. York makes another fine catch of Brods restart and set up another series of play with retained possession. From the fourth phase the ball is moved wide, fullback Ben Williams, joins the line to go wide on the outside to score with his winger still available outside him. With ball still in hand he takes the conversion and adds a further two points (0-40). For the first and only time in the game, Brods looks slightly dejected as their restart fails to barely cross the halfway line. York opts for the scrum, which they win. And take play back into Brods 22 where Brods manage to clear the ball into touch. A long throw in the York line is not taken and York knock-on as they try to collect the ball beyond the line. Brods win their scrum and start a drive from defense and down the middle of the field. York have to scurry back to recover but recover the situation they do and clear the ball to touch. This short bust has boosted Brods confidence as they win the ball from a long lineout of their own but loose the ball in the tackle. York immediately set up to counter attack but as play moves deep back into Brods territory, York is forced into touch and the referee blows for halftime.
HALF TIME : OLD BRODLEIANS 0 YORK 40.

Discussion between the referee and coaches of both Brods and York concludes that Cup victory is conceded to York. The above score being the official game result. The game will continue as a friendly only. All York travelling reserves are given match time.

Brods restart the second half determined to salvage some pride. York takes time settle with the changes of players and the game becomes momentarily a bit scrappy. From York being awarded a penalty on halfway it is soon business as usual. York runs the ball but is forced into touch on Brods 22. Brods win the line but fail to find touch with their clearance. York run the ball back at them and as the ball is recycled close to Brods line, Rhys Whitby is on hand to dramatise his try scoring technique. (0-5). The game takes on a more kicking mode as York try to kick Brods restart back down field. Perhaps, with the slight wind advantage Brods feel that a kick and chase may be more successful than their running game. York likewise resorted to kicking in order to retain play in Brods half. From a penalty just inside Brods half, York ran the ball but were forced into touch as the attack built momentum. Brods tried to run the ball from defense but lost the ball as York came up quickly. Tom Bullough got his hands to the ball first to pick up and race over. (0-10). It was business as usual as York took a clean catch of Brods restart. As York forwards drove forward, Chris Cambridge broke clear to score behind the posts. Oliver Leedham added the conversion. (0-17). York attacked again from Brods restart and put up a chasing kick. Brods collected the ball and tried to kick clear but it found a York player. York set up a wide passing movement that almost brought a try in the corner but as play was held York were already lined up the opposite way and as the ball was switched, Brods backs were far too stretched as Cameron Atkinson took the try scoring pass. (0-22). With sun in their eyes, York made a rare error of knocking on from Brods restart. To make amends, York won Brods scrum and a knock on halted a promising attack. York won a penalty inside their own half and short tap saw George Gao beat Brods defenders as he made for the line. Eventually he ran out of steam with Brods fullback holding his ankle. A slip pass to Tom Leonard, in support, saw that player continue the momentum and cover the remaining few yards to score. (0-27). With that the final whistle went.
FULL TIME : OLD BRODLEIANS 0 YORK 67.

Somewhat of a mismatch but at the end of the day it had been a clinical team performance by York and Brods were not going to be cup heroes or giant killers. Credit to their dogged performance to stick on in there but the challenge was just too much for them. York teamwork gelled better than in previous weeks and ball possession was more sustained. The cup will throw up stronger challengers and the players have much to work on in this respect.

Try Scorers:

Finlay Craig
William Emery
Tom Leonard (2)
Callum Simpson (2)
Ben Williams
Rhys Whitby
Chris Cambridge
Tom Bullough
Cameron Atkinson

Conversions:

Oliver Leedham (4)
Ben Williams (2)

Players Man of the Match:

Shared amongst all the squad to reflect everyone's contribution to a great team effort.