York smash Sunderland in another league victory

Written By Sarah McLoughlin

Determined defence by York secured another win this week, which keeps them in contention with Sheffield Hallam at the top of the table. This week they returned to Sunderland to face the side they conquered three weeks ago to move forward in the cup competition..

Sunderland had some problems getting a team together, and York were kept waiting for twenty minutes after the scheduled kick-off time. Eventually, the stragglers sprinted onto the field, fresh from lectures but ready to show a challenge to the visitors, and the match got underway. York started strongly, chasing Chrissie Leahy’s kick to get right up in the opposition's face.

York’s first try was scored within the first five minutes, as Lizzie Prance zigzagged up the pitch, leaving the opposition players grasping at air. Sunderland seemed to expect the ball to go straight down the line, so a long pass by Prance to Kirsty Wheeler threw them off their game enough for Wheeler to put York in the lead.

Sunderland did not give York a chance to get comfortable, wasting no time scoring a try of their own. Their forward-heavy style of play provided a challenge similar to that of Sheffield Hallam last week. Sunderland’s backs saw very little action, as their forwards repeatedly recycled the ball close to the ruck and kept play away from the wings. York’s defence at the ruck has become much stronger of late, and they closed down many of their opposition’s opportunities to score. However, at times York’s defensive line was sluggish after penalties were given against them, and their slowness in reforming gave Sunderland a chance to break through.

Sunderland’s conversion sailed over the bar, taking them into a two point lead. This seemed to rile York, and they commandeered the ball straight off the Sunderland kick to restart and charged it up the field, with Wheeler finishing for her second try of the match.

Several minutes later, York continued their unfortunate trend of ankle injuries, with Sabrina Ammi forced to retire from the field after hers was twisted and then trodden on, leaving her with a nasty-looking lump. Nikki Parker came onto the wing to replace Ammi, and York quickly got back to work.

Mauling proved a key tool for York in this match. Although Sunderland were adept at playing off the ruck, they were less aggressive in the maul, enabling York to gain ground. This tactic drove the ball up the field, where club president, Chelsey Sprong, fought off several opponents to drive it over the line for York’s final try of the half.

In the second half, Sunderland appeared to be deliberately attempting to bring the line-out more into play, repeatedly forcing the York backs into touch when in possession of the ball. However, they then gave away an easy penalty by going for York jumper, Fiona Parr, rather than the ball, yanking Parr down by her shirt mid-jump.

Clare Beer scored the first try of the half, catching a kick deep in York’s territory and then unerringly sprinting her way through the gaps in the Sunderland line. Wheeler’s conversion took York to twenty-four points to Sunderland’s seven.

Sunderland still managed to score one more try, but it seemed like the game had slipped out of their reach when one of their props was knocked unconscious at the bottom of a ruck. Sunderland were in York’s 22, and the game continued for several more phases before the referee reacted to the shouts from both teams that the home side were a player down. The injured player was quickly revived, but Sunderland were unable to provide a substitute, and both sides agreed to drop the scrum to seven players, later going uncontested after the sixty minute mark.

For York, there was still time to score two more tries. Parr provided the first, when she made a break down the first wing her team mates were a little slow to support. But this did not faze Parr, who seemed to be on a one-woman mission to get the ball over the line. Once again, the Sunderland players attempted to squeeze her out of bounds to force a line-out, but she dove over the line within inches of touch.

The final score of the match was no less dramatic, as Prance attempted to drive through several opposition players directly under the posts, before bouncing off the post-guard and wrapping around it to stretch the ball over the line with a single hand.

York put in an assured performance this week, despite the absence of vice-captain, Emma Hodgson, relegated to the sidelines by injury. Hodgson’s position at scrum-half was capably filled by Amy Davies. Their defensive work has improved greatly over the term, and their game will need to be as tight as possible for the cup final in a month’s time. Next, however, they will re-encounter another team they have already defeated in the cup, Leeds Trinity of All Saints, in their final league match of the year.

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-Amy Davies, 10-Chrissie Leahy, 11- Sabrina Ammi, 12-Aimee Miller, 13-Kate Fullilove, 14-Kerry McQuigg, 15-Clare Beer.

Sub: Nikki Parker

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