U13 York vs West Park Leeds (Home)

It was clearly a false dawn last week. The hint of spring had apparently frazzled the minds of some fathers, and they had delved too far back into the wardrobe in their quest for suitable attire this morning. Needless to say the ever reliable Mr Harrison came in canvas deck shoes to give him surer footing in the muddy conditions – we can expect no better from one with such a reckless track record of fashion faux pas. It was however somewhat disappointing to see that Mr Robson had come straight from the Gaudy Trousers R Us store to the game. One can only assume he was going on to do a shift at the York Council Depot straight after the game. You might get away with it strutting down Knightsbridge, but up here mate – No!

On with the Game.

First Half

York kick-off and play ensues around the WPL 10m line for a couple of minutes. WPL working hard to get the play back into York territory, but York keeping the pressure on and working it deeper towards the WPL 22m line. WPL penalised for not releasing in the ruck and Connor kicks it to their 5m line. The York line-out is won and the Forwards set-up a maul and drive it over the WPL try-line, with Will K taking the points (5-0); no conversion.

WPL restart. Andre clears it back to the half-way line. WPL win their line-out. York penalised for not rolling away in the ruck; still around the half-way point. Good pressure by York, keeping WPL pinned in their own half. But York penalised again (hands in the ruck), and WPL take it from their 22m line. A WPL maul is held-up and York get the scrum. Then York knock-on at the WPL 10m line, and WPL win their scrum. The advantage goes back to York though as WPL are penalised for hands in the ruck near their 10m line. Connor kicks it up towards the WPL 22m line. York line-out is tipped back by Fraser. York try and gain ground, but knock-on, and it’s another WPL scrum, which they win. WPL are tackled trying to run the ball, and Connor steals the ball before the WPL player can go to ground. York press the play to within 5m of the WPL try-line, but then lose the advantage as they knock-on. WPL win the scrum and break with the ball, taking it all the way up to the York 10m line. York awarded a penalty though as WPL handle the ball on the floor of the ruck); play back into WPL territory. WPL get a line-out about 10m from their try-line, which they win and try to clear. The ball goes to Tom though, who runs it back, weaving and dodging. Unfortunately there’s a York infringement, and WPL get a scrum ~10m from their try-line, which they win and clear up to their 22m line. The York line-out drifts to WPL and they try once again to get the ball out of their territory. York are pressing hard though and take play deeper into the WPL half. York get a penalty. Will K nearly gets through the WPL defence; York retain the ball though and pass it along their Backs. Tom sends the ball across to Harry, who runs it in (10-0); no conversion.

WPL restart. Great run by Sam the improving York Forward, who uses his size and strength to good effect, pushing past several players and taking play back to the half-way line. The ball comes across to Andre who runs from half-way and scores between the posts (15-0); Connor converts (17-0).

WPL restart, and play is more in the York half. WPL get a penalty at the York 10m line (not releasing in the ruck). York defending well. WPL get a line-out around half-way, which is won by York. Ben (playing well today, putting some big tackles in) kicks the ball across pitch to Andre, who sets off on another run from half-way, and gets to within 10m of their try-line before he is tackled. Toby picks the ball up and tries to take it further forward, but stopped by WPL. Half time.

Second Half

WPL kick-off the second half, the ball being taken cleanly by Connor who kicks it back to half-way. Good follow-up chase by Zak and Connor, who make good tackles on the WPL defence, and Connor rips the ball off them and it comes out to Tom, who shows that he is just as adept at scoring from the half-way as Andre (22-0)! No conversion.

WPL restart and Toby runs it back to near half-way. WPL get a line-out which is won by Fraser. Infringement by York though and WPL get a scrum at the York 10m line. Advantage back to York though as WPL are penalised for not rolling away in the ruck. A period of good play by both sides, as they complete hard to gain the upper hand. Scrum to WPL at their 22m line, which they win. Knock-on by York and a scrum to WPL at their 10m line. WPL pressing hard. Line-out to WPL at the York 10m line. Scrum to WPL at the York 10m line, which they win and kick to the York 22m line. York get a line out, but lose it. Andre gets the ball and starts another run from the half-way line, but is tackled at the WPL 22m line; good support by Toby again as he gets the ball and takes it further on, but he’s taken into touch. The WPL line-out is lost though, and then they knock-on. Scrum to York at the WPL 22m line, which they only just retain as the WPL Forwards try to drive them back. Steele breaks away with the ball and heads for the line, but there’s a York knock-on 10m out from the WPL try-line. WPL trying to clear the ball from their territory, but York working hard to close them down. More good play from Ben, as he tries to break through the WPL defence with a run and a kick along the touch line to within 5m of the WPL try-line. Knock-on by York though, and WPL get the scrum, which they win. Connor steals the ball back and starts a series of passes along the York Backs to stretch play over to the other side of the pitch, but unfortunately it’s a York knock-on. Another scrum to WPL at their 5m line. WPL still trying to clear the ball, and get a penalty at their 22m line. A series of passes along the WPL Backs and they look as though they might break through the York defence, but Samuel makes a crunching tackle to stop the move, and York regain possession. Play restarts with a York scrum at the WPL 22m line, which they win and try to move the ball wider across the pitch. WPL win the ball though and clear it to past half-way.

Period of play now in the York half, with WPL getting some scrums. York take play back into WPL territory though. The game is played out between the teams’ 22m lines, with neither side gaining the upper hand to score. Full time.

Congratulations to both sides for a hard fought, tiring, and good-spirited.

Well done and thanks to Stuart Lancaster for taking the time to come over and have a chat to the lads at the end of the game.

Final Score York 22-0 West Park Leeds