Nouse.co.uk » York Rugby firsts cruise to comfortable victory in BUCS season opening match

York Rugby firsts cruise to comfortable victory in BUCS season opening match

October 29, 2008
Adam Shergold

York 1sts 43 Northumbria 3rds 21

York’s rugby team opened their BUCS League account for another season courtesy of this comfortable six try victory over Northumbria, in a fluent, though often feisty, match on the 22 Acres.

Outstanding performances from Ben Innes and Tom Weir, one of several first years introduced for this fixture, formed the core of a solid team showing that bodes well for the long campaign ahead.

Already handicapped by the perennial BUCS scheduling fiasco, which forced the forfeit of an early October fixture with Newcastle, it was crucial that York gained something against visitors who had shown promising early season form.

Consequently, captain Mike Callis urged guts and physicality from his team pre-match.

However, the opening minutes were anything but impressive, as Northumbria swarmed forward at will, squandering four scoring opportunities and missing a straightforward penalty.

Penned in their 22 for the opening ten minutes, York then stunned their opponents by breaking forward with purpose and characteristic mobility; their reward an opening try when Innes squirmed through several challenges for 5-0. Moments later, right-wing Peter Spanker surged forward for another try in the corner and his pace would prove a menace for Northumbria throughout.

Shell-shocked Northumbria were forced to contemplate a 17-0 half-time deficit after Spanker’s second try, again in the right corner, resulted from assured build-up from Innes. York’s lively passing movement and confidence in possession proved highly effective and look set to become a hallmark of the team’s play throughout the year.

Perhaps the most encouraging moment arrived at the very start of the second period, when fresher Weir extended the lead to 22 points, with Rob Grant adding the extras.

Nevertheless, for all York’s slick play in possession, mental concentration still needs to be improved, as testified by a sloppy ten minute spell, in which two Northumbria scores allowed them an undeserved route back into contention. Tempers frayed on several occasions, Innes being bloodied in a nasty exchange between the props.

Mental discipline needed restoring and a series of replacements worked wonders to secure the victory, notably when Lionel Owusu dived over to culminate an excellent, sweeping move.

As time flowed away, another score for York, this time from fresher Jack Miles added a deserved gloss to the scoreline, something which wasn’t tarnished by a late Northumbria consolation.

There was disappointment for York’s other teams however: the seconds lost 50-8 against Sheffield Hallam, while the thirds were defeated 56-19 by Sunderland.