Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
Written by Sarah McLoughlin
York showed their determination to win in a tough fashion against Sheffield Hallam this week in the semi-finals of the BUCS cup. The knockout nature of the tournament meant the stakes were high for both teams, and York were especially keen to beat Hallam for being the only team to defeat them so far in the league.
The outcome of this earlier encounter appeared to have made Hallam cocky, as their starting 15 missed several key players, and York dominated the first half, consistently punching holes in Hallam’s defense to score four tries.
The first try came only a few minutes into the game. Emma Hodgson was tackled metres from the try line and Kirsty Wheeler was quick to support, hitting Hodgson’s short pass at full speed to carry it over the try line. Wheeler’s conversion then gave York a seven point lead. Unfortunately, Wheeler’s valuable contribution to the game was short-lived, when she went down in a tackle minutes later and had to be taken to hospital with a possible broken ankle.
Both teams tried to keep warm and focused while play stopped, and York made plans to reshuffle its pack, with Chelsey Sprong replacing Wheeler at tighthead prop and Fiona Parr coming into the front row as loosehead. Even with this new line-up, York’s scrum was a powerhouse throughout the match. Scrums were frequent, but York performed confidently, as hooker, Vic Cusick, repeatedly pounced on Hallam’s ball, stealing all but one of the opposition's put-ins.
York’s backs were on top form as well, as they sent the ball quickly down the line into the hands of Emma Cooper, who broke through several attempted tackles and sprinted down the right wing to score York’s second try. Fullback, Clare Beer commandeered a loose kick near midfield and dodged around the defence to ground the ball several minutes later, a try which was converted by Hodgson. Cooper then pounced on a turnover to score her second try, and it looked like York might manage a fifth in the closing minutes of the half with a penalty deep in Hallam’s territory. York were unable to make anything of it however, and Hodgson kicked for touch to close the half.
Hallam made some major changes in their line-up for the second half, bringing on their more experienced players. The result was a complete change in the style of the game. In the first half, Hallam had hardly been out of their own half, now it was York who were pushed back into their own 22, doggedly defending against the concerted Hallam attack.
Hallam’s relentless efforts led to three tries in the first twenty minutes of the half, as they employed the tactics that had proved so effective against York in the earlier league game. Their forwards repeatedly picked the ball from the back of the ruck and drove forward with it, advancing inexorably up the middle of the pitch. York’s defensive line began to get ragged, despite the vocal efforts of winger, Kate Fullilove, to get her team mates back in line.
York saw their lead start to crumble as Hallam inched closer to drawing level, and they tightened up their defence at the ruck, determined not to throw the game away. For the last fifteen minutes of the game they frustrated Hallam’s efforts, holding them at bay close to the York try-line. Exhausted, York began to count down the minutes to their win as Hallam kept fighting until the final whistle but ultimately, despite their best efforts Hallam, could not make up the 24 point lead they had given York in the first half. York will now move forward to face Liverpool in the finals of the BUCS cup. If they can repeat the sheer grit they showed against Hallam, their chances look good to take the title.
Team List:
1-Chelsey Sprong,2-Vic Cusick, 3-Kirsty Wheeler, 4-Fiona Parr, 5-Sarah McLoughlin, 6-Louise Blockwell, 7-Gemma Parry, 8-Lizzie Prance, 9-Emma Hodgson, 10-Chrissie Leahy, 11-Amy Davies, 12-Aimee Miller, 13-Emma Cooper, 14-Kate Fullilove, 15-Clare Beer.
Subs – Sabrina Ammi, Nikki Parker.
You must log in to submit a comment.
