13 man York excels!

Lining up with only seven forwards and no full back, York had to field an improvised back line. Things did not go well for Driffield from the start as their kickoff failed to make the requisite 10 meters and York opted for a scrum back on halfway. York won the ball and drove into the Driffield half before moving the ball out wide where a strong run down the wing took play into Driffield's 22. Driffield won possession and broke from deep. Making their extra men tell they outpaced York's stretched cover to go the length of the field for an opening try. It was not looking well for York. (0-5).
From the York restart they drove Driffield back and were forced into touch on Driffield's 22. York won the Driffield line, attacked and almost scored but was held up on the Driffield line. York retained possession and as the ball was played back, second row Cambridge picked up to drive over and score. (5-5).
York took a neat catch of the Driffield restart, drove to commit the Driffield pack before offloading to Cambridge who this time raced away from inside his own half to score between the posts. Flyhalf Atkinson added the conversion points. (12-5).
The restart followed a similar pattern but this time the backs were involved. As a move out wide to the right was halted by Driffield, York switched back to the left where Simpson (playing at centre) scored without the need for the extra man outside him. Play was such that it was York who appeared to have two more players. Atkinson added the conversion. (19-5).
It was looking good for York but could York maintain such momentum. From the restart it was York who attacking again. Driffield had to and did defend hard by forcing York into touch on three occasions. It was to little avail as York won most lineout ball. From within Driffield 22, York mounted a strong drive from which No 8 Leonard picked up to score. (24-5).
York attacked again from the restart but this time Driffield held firm. York forced play into touch to halt a strong Driffield counter attack. York won the lineout and ran the ball wide. Leonard in support took a neat offload to bring him his second try. (29-5).
With only a minute of the first half remaining, York were back on the attack right from the restart. With Driffield forcing play into touch the halftime whistle blew.
HALF TIME : YORK 29 DRIFFIELD 5.

Could York maintain their momentum for the second half? Would the break give Driffield time to reassess how to utilise their two-man advantage?
York restarted with a deep kick, Driffield let the ball bounce but the high bounce beat York as they followed up quickly or else an immediate try would surely ensued. Driffield did counter attack from that position and York had to fall back deep into their own half to defend their line. Maybe Driffield had a new second half strategy?
With York regaining possession they also regained their momentum and strong driving runs took play back into Driffield territory. York won a lineout but then the ball went loose. Driffield won possession but then they too spilled the ball. This time it was alert and speeding Simpson who was quick to gather the loose ball and race over to score. Normal business had been resumed! (34-5).
The Driffield restart again failed to go the full 10 meters. York played advantage and spun the ball out wide to winger Gao for him to round the Driffield defense to score. (39-5).
Further York tries were to follow at regular intervals. Starved of possession and against a stronger pack Driffield, try as they did, could not sustain any pressure. York's limited back line saw players looping round just to match their Driffield counterparts. It was from such a move that Simpson looped round his winger to take a neat pass and with space on the outside raced in to score. (44-5).
York was now totally dominant at all set pieces and only handling errors delayed further attacking play. The next break came from a York kick, which found space behind Driffield's defense. Driffield did their hands on the ball first but were caught in possession as York followed up quickly. York won the ruck for Leonard to pick up and drive over. (49-5).
Driffield topped the restart kick as it rolled slowly forward until it crossed the requisite 10 meters. With Driffield not being allowed to play the ball without penalty, York took time to assess the situation. When York did eventually pick up the ball a neat offload to Cambridge saw him race away for the second time during the game to score between the posts. Atkinson added the conversion. (56-5).
The final try came from a demonstration of York's forward power play. York caught the Driffield restart and drove up field. Driffield ultimately held them but York retained possession and drove again. For a second time Driffield temporally held them. A third drive saw Leonard cross for a final try to which Atkinson added the conversion. (63-5).
The final minute of the game saw both teams trying to build an attack to which both sides mounted solid defenses.
FULL TIME : YORK 63 DRIFFIELD 5.

York's 13 had truly excelled against 15 man Driffield. Their 7-man pack had dominated set pieces. Also notable was the amount of rucked and loose ball they secured: a vast improvement over recent weeks. It was more emphatic because Driffield could utilise their extra forward in these areas whilst in set pieces they were restricted to matching York's numbers. The back line had improvised at every opportunity to counter Driffield's strength in numbers. It had been a unique situation for Driffield but they never made their extra men effective nor capitalised on York not playing a full back. York's performance was even more remarkable by having to defend the width of the first team pitch having been given the honour to play on it.

SCORERS:

Tries:
Cambridge (3)
Simpson (3)
Leonard (4)
Gao

Conversions:
Atkinson (4)

Players 'Man of the Match'.
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