Sheffield 34-12 York
York Rugby Union team suffered an unfortunate 34-12 defeat to Sheffield University after a dogged display in their first match of the new season.
The team, captained this year by Paul Goodall, showed much promise throughout the game, despite only two weeks of prior training, and many playing their first game of contact rugby since the close and bitter defeat against Lancaster at Roses.
With many of the second and third years still at home, and the academic year yet to start, the fact that the team showed up with a solid pack and a handy backline is testament to the determination and depth this club has.
Experienced fly-half Thomas Benbow kicked off UYRUFC’s season, and the Sheffield side were quick to put the pressure on the White Rose, booting the ball back after a few phases of play only to receive it again on their halfway line. The forwards split the York defence, leaving their outside centre gliding through a hole to score a try underneath the posts.
The same move was repeated several minutes later. A turnover in midfield saw the ball being spread left by the imposing Sheffield backs to their centre, who drew the defence before switching to his left-winger for another try. This time the Sheffield kicker failed to convert.
However, this second try awoke the York team, who increased the pressure on their hosts after the second restart. A beautifully executed move on the Sheffield 22 saw centres Alex Neoh and Jack Wakeling, who normally operates as a flanker, fix their opposing numbers for Sam Taylor, at 15, to gather the delayed pass and break the gain line between them.
Tackled inches short, Taylor stretched to score the first try of the season for York with Benbow adding the extra two points.
The rest of the first half saw an interesting battle between the forwards, with the Sheffield eight dominating the scrums and mauls and stealing numerous lineouts.
However, the York pack defended the ball feverishly at the breakdown, where the experience of flankers Goodall and Chris Carrington, now Club President, supplied various turnover balls.
However, despite having the better of possession and territory, discipline sometimes let the White Rose down, who conceded easy penalties for holding on or offside under intense pressure from the high-paced rush defence of the Sheffield backs.
One of these penalties resulted in a sweeping move by Sheffield, ending in a deft chip to the right corner. The bounce betrayed the oncoming winger Kevin Fogarty and Sheffield were in for their third try, which their kicker failed to convert.
The rest of the half saw clever kicking by the York fly half to pin Sheffield in their own 22.
The second half of the match brought with it a series of developments, with winger Mike Callis moving into his favoured position of lock and Jon Kume-Davy adding more driving power to the pack, which had been on the back foot during set pieces.
The changes brought their rewards, with York yet again having the majority of possession and territory throughout the half. The White Rose’s kicking game kept the opposing side pinned in their half, exploiting the inexperience of the Sheffield winger to yield two attacking line-outs.
The scrum finally started to hold up and give scrum-half Sam Dudley a decent base to work from. Support by the pack was omnipresent, ultimately rewarding hooker Mike Hornby with a try after some good offloading in a move that saw most of the team involved and ended with the number two spinning past a defender and diving for the try.
The Sheffield maul, previously the most dangerous weapon in their arsenal, was dulled by excellent defence on the fringes. Taylor was always on hand all over the park to carry the ball a few extra yards or make a darting break.
Ultimately, however, fitness let York down, with tackles and hands becoming sloppy towards the end. This allowed the first-year Sheffield subs to race in for another three tries amidst an overall decrease in communication between the York players.
However, as team captian Goodall said after the final whistle, the signs are there that the style of attacking rugby and the defence system that York want to play are coming together, and that if the team gel and keep improving as they have done, this looks to be a good season for UYRUFC.
