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
YORK UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S RUGBY FIRSTS – 33 BRADFORD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S RUGBY FIRSTS - 0
York Women's Rugby Team played Bradford on Wednesday and secured their fourth win of the season thanks to technically tight play and a strong resolve.
The home side were hampered by the news that Bradford were only able to muster up enough players for a 13-a-side game. This meant that York were unable to put all their skilled players to use at once and instead were limited to just 5 backs at a time.
This was not enough to faze the team, however. At the very moment fly-half Aimee Miller sent the ball soaring towards the Bradford ladies, no.8 Sarah McLoughlin wasted no time in establishing herself as a formidable opponent. Charging up the pitch towards the receiver, who barely had time to register what was happening, McLoughlin brought the unsuspecting player to the ground and the ball was turned-over. This impressive opening to the game served to rattle the visiting team whose morale seemed to buckle briefly as they let York set up a series of attacks on their try-line.
Bradford managed to hold off a clearly dominant opposition for quite some time though and Aimee Wilson's surge over the line was foiled by an aggressive defence which forced the ball from her hands before it could be grounded.
Such an assault could not be held off for long and soon Bradford's energy was showing signs of dwindling. Miller, taking advantage of any noticeable perforations in the line, was able to pierce through and start the ball rolling on the scoreboard. With apparent ease she added two additional points to her own try with a kick straight through the middle of the uprights.
Bradford, who have experienced a disappointing season so far, proved to be a strong and determined team despite their previous setbacks. The need for a win was felt in every tackle, ruck and maul they threw themselves into. For a time they were successful in holding York off and, due to lack of organisation and aggression in York's defence, even drove the team all the way back to their own try-line.
York refused to be backed up against a wall, however, and soon the quick hands of the backs and unwavering force of the forwards carried the ball up towards Bradford's line. Shaunie Walsh, a newcomer to the York team this year who has already shown she can combine the talents of both a forward as well as a back, had no trouble cutting a superb line through the opposition and storming over to score the team's second try.
14-0 ahead at half-time, York were feeling quietly confident. But as coach Josh Moatt pointed out, there was no room for complacency and plenty of room for improvement. York's defence had been tentative and even weak at times during the first half, and as the second half commenced every player knew this had to be rectified.
And rectify it they did, refusing to budge an inch against a frustrated Bradford. In the scrum, front row Izzy Lewis managed again and again to steal the ball from right under the opposite hooker's feet. Securing the possession in each breakdown of play put McLoughlin in a strong position to take the ball and plough through their defence, as well as allowing Scrum-Half Emma Nugent the room to pace up the wings.
York's back-line was unmatched in the final half hour of the game. Rotating the substitutes gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs against a slowly deteriorating Bradford. And inevitably, try as they might, they were unable to keep Miller from shaking off attempted tackles and racing over the line to score three successive tries. Her excellence with ball in hand was followed up by her skill with the boot, converting each one to end the game at 33-0.
Bradford were gracious in defeat and played extremely well for a team with so many inexperienced players, but the game had been York's from the start. The strong opening few phases were steadily built on throughout the match to secure them, in Moatt's words, “a good clean win”.
York face Sunderland away next Wednesday.
York Line-up: 1. Linzi Hull 2. Hannah Curzon 3. Vanessa Vazquez Felpeto 4. Fiona Parr 5. Angharad Ball 6. Emma Mathias 7. Jess Sharpe 8. Sarah McLoughlin 9. Emma Nugent 10. Aimee Miller 12. Vivian Nguyen 13. Shaunie Walsh 15. Amee Wilson
Substitutes: Ally Walsh, Claire Hogarth, Emily Wells, Izzy Lewis, Sabrina Ammi, Sarah Kenning
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