Rugby club go from strength to strength

Whisper it softly, very softly, but this season is shaping up to be one of unprecedented success down at “Fortress 22” for the rugby club. With all three sides having only lost one game so far and sitting comfortably in the top halves of their respective leagues, despite having games in hand, promotion across the board is on the cards.

Having gained promotion at a canter last season, going the whole season unbeaten and maintaining an unbeaten home record stretching back to 2007, this season the 1st XV were expected to run into trouble in the higher leagues. However, the 1sts record of played 6, won 5, lost 1, giving them a current standing of 2nd in Northern 1A, speaks for itself and is comfortably the highest BUCS league position for any sports team at York.

Away victories have come against Liverpool and Sheffield 1sts, with comfortable wins also recorded over sides from Manchester, Durham and the performance of the season so far against Northumbria. Despite all the opposition being much larger universities with an established sporting pedigree, York have consistently outclassed their opposition. Only a bitterly contested away loss to Sheffield Hallam, last year relegated from the Premier division, blots the copy book.

Captain Alex Redshaw has led by example in a commanding pack, with a front row destroying opposition scrums, second row imperious at the lineout and a mobile backrow snaffling opposition ball and dominating rucks. Supplementing this forward strength is a backline solid in the tackle and rapierlike going forward, shredding the opposition defences.

On occasion though, the team can perhaps be accused of a lack of ruthlessness, allowing some late opposition tries to be scored and yet more of coach Alec Porter’s hair to turn grey. But there is a spirit of winning deeply engrained in the team, leading to their deserved christening as the ‘Invincibles,’ one which should carry them to equal success in the second half of the season.

The strength in depth of the rugby club set up is seen in the success of the 2nd XV, led by Will Tate, who have had two comfortable victories over Newcastle and Sheffield, with a heartbreakingly narrow loss to Sheffield Hallam’s 2nds. The thirds have been equally successful under the leadership of Simon Reed, with emphatic victories over both Hull’s 2nd and 3rd teams, and a single loss against Leeds 3rds.

A top three finish for all the teams is certainly achievable.
Club captain Alex Redshaw

Particularly encouraging has been the emergence of some promising freshers in key positions, and the speed with which they have gelled with the more senior players to create formidable teams. The 3rds in particular has also benefited greatly from a large number of third and fourth years – such as Reed – returning to play rugby having been involved in other sports, proving the door is always open to get involved. Both sides will be hoping to capitalise on their strong starts to push hard for promotion this year.

Club captain Redshaw puts the season’s success down to the squads’ twin virtues of professionalism and camaraderie, particularly the dedication to training both on the pitch and in the gym. “At the beginning of the season we were looking to consolidate our place in the higher league. It’s certainly too early to start talking about the season as a success, considering its not even halfway, but with the way we’ve played so far a top three finish for all the teams is certainly achievable. We need to make sure we don’t lose sight of what’s got us to this level: hard training and dedication on the pitch.”

And so, with all three teams flying high, all eyes turn to the 1sts fixture with Sheffield Hallam later this term. If York can produce a win at home, as they have proved so consistently good at doing, the chance to sit top of the league over Christmas beckons. Back to back promotion impossible? It would take a brave man to bet against it.

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