York 2nd vs Sheffield Hallam 2nd
November 12th, 2009 by Reporter_2ndUniversity of York Men’s 2nd XV 10 – 16 Sheffield Hallam University’s Men’s 2nd XV
After an emphatic victory away from home against Newcastle, the team were confident that under the stewardship of Tate, they could truly stamp their mark on 22 acres parachuting themselves to league leader’s. Yet what the bumble-bees hadn’t accounted for was that the Hallam Captain had resorted to buggery and was sleeping with the ‘independent’ referee who proved more biased than Andre Watson in the 2003 World Cup final. Nevertheless the Yorkies came out firing and were soon building momentum in the Hallam 22.
It was then that an endless-run of penalties began against the men in black and yellow. No fools, the Hallam boys were able to exploit this with some good lines and an accurate kicking boot. Indeed it was on the end of one of these kick’s that the seemingly tireless ‘man-mountain’ Phil Johnson found himself, and showing more agility than Billy Elliott he pirouetted past tackler after tackler before finally being brought down. Unfortunately this display of excellence lead to Johnson being carried from the pitch in the latest run of ankle injuries that are running rife through the 2nd XV ranks. This lead to new boy Jordan Huey-Abbott taking an increased role in the line-outs as main-jumper, a task he didn’t shy from. With the help of the ‘white Mark Henry’ CRM soon had the Hallam pack marching backwards, and with a successful series of back moves, supplied excellently by Woody, it was not long before space opened up on the wings and the inevitable happened: Usain Bolt scored in the corner. Carmony’s effort at the posts was commendable but unfortunately just wide.
The seemingly impenetrable York defence now faltered after a series of heavy hit’s most notably coming from the open-side Morrison and the most feared man in UYRUFC history, a man who can slam a revolving door, a man who drinks lighter-fluid at the half time break, the man who spear-tackles during touch sessions, the man responsible behind every major assassination in world history: the one and only loose cannon. This momentary blip in what league 3B has duped the ‘Great Wall of China’ saw Hallam find the line in the corner, levelling the scores at 5-5. Just before the half-time whistle Hallam slotted a penalty to lead 8-5.
The second half began with a period of truly brilliant rugby which saw both sides going at each other like two opposing packs of rabid dog’s fighting over a leg of lamb, a sight that can also be likened to Jock Miles homing in for the kill on a Ziggy’s night. A guiley kick into the corner from Hallam, resulted in one of their few pieces of clean line-out ball, and following a well executed back’s move, Hallam found themselves just 5 metres from the line, which their forwards eventually crashed over. It was now that York erupted into life following a powerful talk from Will Tate that the Yorkie warriors again found themselves relentlessly hammering the Hallam lines of defence.
This period of passionate rugby is one for the York 2nds to remember and strive to emulate at a later date, and despite the referee’s best efforts, nobody could stop Terraga scoring in the corner. It was now that the management had a blip, waiting until Carmony had taken the kick before subbing on James Mortimer whose kicking game is second to none, and can reputedly shoot pheasant with just a rugby boot and ball. Shortly after the kick off Hallam were awarded another penalty which they kicked and despite the ball swinging wide of the posts, the referee, in perhaps his most controversial move of the day, awarded Hallam the points to give them a lead of 16-10. With the 1st XV now arriving on the sideline the final ten minutes was a period of total York domination, and only some commendable last ditch-attempt tackles from Hallam prevented what many watching thought was a forgone conclusion, a match winning Yorkie try. A good side, but one to beat in the next encounter.
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