Rugby 2nds claim convincing first win

Before Wednesday, York 2nds had failed to win a single BUCS league game this season, though they had got points on the board in every fixture. This poor form left them languishing at the bottom of the Northern Conference 3B table, but disguised some excellent, sturdy performances along the way.

Now the team has the victory it has deserved for so long, and an unexpected one at that, given their top-of-the-league opposition. Having been deducted three points for failing to appear in the away fixture - despite term not having even begun! – York had a bone to pick with Newcastle, and lost no time in hammering the tries through a poorly organised defence.

From excellent scrummaging in the opposition 5m line, left-winger Sebastian Hurst opened the scoring, converting his own try to put York seven points up in as many minutes. Number eight James Bennett powered over from another great scrum and outside centre Jack Miles showed his pace down the right to give the home side a solid 19-0 foothold after half an hour.

Inevitably, Newcastle tightened up, soon able to pass the ball across almost their entire back line without dropping it. However, they were still easily outclassed by the great running of the home backs. Meanwhile the York pack was still dominating the game, with Newcastle scarcely able to win their own rucks, and so the ball rarely crossed into York’s half before the break.

Suddenly Newcastle looked deserving of their league position, retaining possession well, and probing York’s defences with gusto. However, the home side eagerly upheld captain Sam Dudley’s mantra: “Keep this defence. Zero points!” Indeed, Dudley proudly led by example, putting in a superb try-saving tackle when Newcastle threatened to go over in the right-hand corner.

Having soaked up pressure for much of the second half, kicking for touch well, York turned the tables on the hour mark and advanced up the field to camp on the Newcastle 5m line. York eventually won a penalty on the left, which Dudley was unceremoniously denied from taking quickly by a bearlike dump-tackle from the Newcastle six. When the tap-kick was taken though, York moved quickly to send Miles in again on the right.

And with the game now firmly beyond them, the visitors simply gave up all hope. Substitute eight Ali Arkan showed power and pace to smash through almost the entire Newcastle pack, with a simple backs move putting inside centre Desmond Pollen through just two minutes after the previous try. Now with their tails irrepressibly up, York ripped through the Newcastle defence like wildfire, and replacement winger Lionel Owusu leisurely jogged in two tries to put the finishing touches to an impressive final scoreline of 39-0 to York.

Speaking after the game, captain Dudley described the game as, “The most complete performance I’ve ever seen from the 2nds. We beat them on intensity and energy, and simply outrucked them.” Man of the match went to tighthead prop Rich Welsh, for, “Stepping up to the mark and playing eighty great minutes of rugby”, emphasising the unshakable hold the York forwards had on the game.

But though this first victory came against a ramshackle Newcastle side – apparently strung together at the last minute by e-mail – this should not be allowed to undermine the professionalism and solidity of York. Equally though, it does not necessarily herald a turning point in the 2nds season: the next three weeks see two matches against Leeds Met. – who have comprehensively won all their games this campaign, even upsetting Hull 1sts from the league above in the cup.

Essentially, York have put in performances like this one all season, but fate and ineffective finishing have denied them the points return. To change the trend they simply need to take the opportunities they so consistently create. And a nice slice of luck.

Team Sheet:

Chris Reid-Milligan, Michael Hornby, Rich Welsh, James Smallwood, Will Forsyth, Guy Holder-Williams, Chris Carr, James Bennett, Sam Dudley, James Mortimer, Sebastian Hurst, Desmond Pollen, Jack Miles, Josh André, Warrick van der Burrows

Subs:

Ali Arkan, Lionel Owusu, Alex Thornton, James Garmiston, Andy Bee.

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