U13 York vs Harrogate (Home)

We must make mention of Mr Robson, who has rushed straight from his Sunday morning job as a “Lolly-Pop Man” to make the game. Mr Harrison had sensibly dressed in brown suede slip-ons (he’s not allowed laces in his state of mind) to “run” touch; minor technical hitch overcome when his flag blew off and into the field next door.

First outing for the newly signed “twins” Thomas and Matthew; Mrs A was a little too uncertain on which twin was which, so I can only apologise if I’ve got them mixed up.

On with the Game. It was decided to play three short games.

First Game

Harrogate kick-off and York knock-on at their 10m line. First scrum to Harrogate, but the York pack drive them off and win the ball. It comes out to Matthew around the half-way line, and he’s off and running, gradually accelerating to warp speed past the Harrogate defence for a debut try (5-0); Connor converts (7-0).

Harrogate restart and it’s taken into a maul by York, and marched back 15m to the half-way line. Will K breaks away from there and shows a great burst of speed all the way to the try-line (12-0); Connor converts (14-0).

Harrogate restart; it’s taken back to half-way by Joe. York unfortunately knock-on though around half-way and Harrogate get another scrum. The York pack drive Harrogate back again, but they hang onto the ball. Harrogate take it into York territory, and another knock-on by York at their 10m line. Scrum to Harrogate, which they win and move play across pitch. Another knock-on by York around their 10m line (concentration and windy conditions). Harrogate win their scrum, but York get the ball back. Connor makes a break through and takes play back to the Harrogate 10m line. Frustratingly it’s another knock-on by York though. This time the Harrogate scrum is turned over, and the ball comes to Thomas, who speeds from the Harrogate 10m line all the way, to match-up to his brother’s debut try; brilliant (19-0); Connor converts (21-0).

Harrogate restart, but ball doesn’t go 10m. York scrum at half-way; won. Will K runs the ball through to the 22m line, with good support following up. The ball goes into touch, and Harrogate get a line-out at their 22m line. It’s intercepted by York, but knocked-on. The Harrogate scrum is won and they set-up a maul around the 22m line. York steal the ball back though, and pass it along the Backs to Matthew, who dances nimbly around the defence to score his second of the day (26-0); Connor converts (28-0).

Harrogate restart, but can’t make much progress into York territory. No further score in this session.

Final Score York 28-0 Harrogate

Second Game

York kick-off, though not 10m. Harrogate defending well, and not much ground given by either side. Gradually York get play deeper into Harrogate territory. Scrum to Harrogate about 30m from their try-line, which they win. Will K is straight onto them though and there is a closely fought couple of minutes as both sides try to gain the upper hand. Penalty to Harrogate at their 22m, and play moves back towards their 10m. Harrogate set up a maul there, but York holding their ground well, and it’s judged not to have been “used”. York get the scrum at the Harrogate 10m line, which they win, though only just as the Harrogate Pack put them under pressure. A York maul is then judged not to have been “used”, and Harrogate get a scrum at their 10m line, which they win. Penalty to Harrogate at their 10m line. Thomas gets his hand on the ball again, and clearly feels the need to even up the try score with his brother, as he dashes from the Harrogate 10m line all the way to touch down for his second of the day (5-0); Connor converts (7-0).

Harrogate restart, and Steele makes a nice run along the touch line back into Harrogate territory, with Samuel in good support. Play moves over to the other side of the pitch, as Andre hands off the defence and carries the ball through to the Harrogate 22m line. Fraser then takes on the challenge and opens his 17 feet stride to outpace the last couple of defenders and score (12-0); Connor converts (14-0).

Harrogate restart and it’s kicked back and chased by York. Harrogate run it back though, and make a break down the touch-line. Andre saves the try with a great tackle at the York 22m line. A scrum to York at their 10m line is won. Andre makes a break for it, and gets as far as the Harrogate 10m line before he is stopped. Not to worry though as Thomas gets the ball and makes it his hat-trick for the day (19-0); not converted.

Harrogate restart and follow-up with a maul. York infringe and Harrogate get a penalty at their 10m line, which they run through into York territory. Harrogate then kick it deep, and ball goes all the way to our touch-line. Andre collects it from there and runs it back through the chasing Harrogate attack, and gets play up to the half-way line, with good support from the team. Play moves further into Harrogate territory and Connor jumps and takes a ball cleanly in the air above the Harrogate defence, then turns and runs it from their 10m line to score (24-0); no conversion.

Final Score York 24-0 Harrogate

Third Game

Harrogate kick-off. Ben kicks it back to their 10m line, and Harrogate return the favour to the York 10m line. Harrogate then playing determinedly around the York 22m line, trying to find a way through the York defence. Period of good play by both sides, trying to get the upper hand. Finally Andre clears it to the Harrogate 22m line. York chase, and Ben kicks the ball on and across the Harrogate try-line and chases it to get his hands on it and score (5-0); no conversion.

Harrogate restart, and York work to try and take play back onto Harrogate territory, but then knock-at their 10m line. The Harrogate scrum is won by York, and play is moved into the Harrogate half, with a great kick by Steele. York lose the initiative though with another knock-on at the Harrogate 22m line. The Harrogate scrum is reset after the ball comes straight out of the tunnel, and York win the second put-in. The ball goes across to Barney on the other side of the pitch, and he makes good ground before being tackled. Play deep in Harrogate territory now. Harrogate get a scrum 6m from their try-line, which they win, and manage to work a little way up pitch. York knock-on again about 10m out from the Harrogate try-line. Harrogate win their scrum. York get the ball back and there is some nice passing between Steele, Toby and Samuel. The move is cleverly intercepted by Harrogate around their 22m line, but unfortunately they knock-on and lose the break opportunity. The York scrum is won, but the York break attempt is stopped by Harrogate.

Nice run by Barney from the Harrogate 10m to the 22m line, who then passes through to Connor and on to Finn (who’s having a good game). Harrogate manage to stop the attack through. The Harrogate scrum at their 22m line is won, and they run it back to the half-way line. Penalty awarded to York (after Harrogate handle the ball on the floor in the ruck) which is kicked to touch around 5m from the try-line. York line-out is not taken cleanly, and knocked-on. Harrogate scrum at 5m, but York win it back and move it across the pitch, looking for a gap through the defence. Harrogate defend well, but the ball goes to touch. Another York line-out around 15m from the Harrogate line-out, and this time it’s taken cleanly by Fraser, who sets up the maul. The York pack roll the maul forwards all the way to the try-line. Brilliant! Connor touches the ball down (10-0), then converts (12-0).

Harrogate restart. Fraser collects it and runs it back from the 22m line to past half-way. The rest of the game is played out as a closely fought affair, with neither side scoring.

Final Score York 12-0 Harrogate

Congratulations to both sides for a hard fought, tiring, and good-spirited morning. Good luck to Harrogate in their U13 Plate Final against Old Crossleyans in a couple of weeks.