The University of York Rugby Union Football Club

Another Wednesday for the first XV saw the visit of a Durham 3rd side, one of the biggest universities represented in the university leagues we knew that we would be playing against players keen to make their mark and try and move up their ranks. However, unfortunately for Durham they were playing against a York side on their home turf, fortress 22 acres a site where York has not lost in a year and a half.

After a warm up in which things did not run smoothly for York the atmosphere was tense and the team was fearful of another poor start but that was the opposite of what occurred, from the outset York went wide great ball from Rob Grant and the centres saw Tom Bugge and Ed Drewett making round on the outside of the Durham defence. With the crowd getting behind York, and ground being made off of all first phase possession it was not long until York were camped on Durham’s 22, and with the ball being spun wide once more it was Gruffudd Jones that stepped with man and handing off another to put in a neat score in the corner, well converted by Grant York had got the start they needed and continued to dominate, solid forward work again from Alex Redshaw and Mike Callis in the contact area and great scrummaging from York’s forwards gave the backs the clean ball they needed to lead the offensive.

Michael James was leading the charge against Durham and with another scything run in which the oppositions defence was left in tatters, York were able to break once more, with the ball being worked wide once again to Drewett good ground was made, with the resulting scrum on the five metre line York were confident of more points. And with the points scorer of the year last season Tom Weir at the back of the scrum it seemed almost a formality and when he did cross the line it was to the shock of the York players when the referee called the ball held up. Despite this minor setback York were still pressing the Durham line, that was until Jones chose to give Durham a chance, a slightly miss-calculated miss pass resulted in the hands of the Durham winger who despite Bugge’s best efforts to hunt him down from the other side of the pitch Durham had scored their first points of the game. Not put off by this misfortunate York fought back and when Grant chose to attack wide in York’s half once more Bugge burst through into the open space, and after drawing the last Durham defender put Drewett in, it was a footrace to the line and with all the extra fitness and plyometric training the first XV have been indulging in there was only going to be one winner and when he crossed the line York were determined to hold onto the lead. With further points being added before half time with a penalty from Grant the score was 15-7.

After the half time break the great work from the forwards continued, Rich Welsh having another great game in his new position for the firsts, Will Forsyth and Rory McGregor also being defensively integral. More great work from Tim Worzel gave quick ball to the backs and with MJ making more good breaks it was left to Jones to power his way over the line once more. After taking their lead to 20-7 York were confident of going on to seal off the game and with further pressure on the Durham line it seemed only a matter of time before another try came, however when quick turnover ball came for Durham in their 22 was chipped over the York line the ball bounced Durham’s way. With a collect from the Durham winger and good support from the players around him another break away try was conceded. With the conversion also made the Durham side were back in the game and this pressure led to further York indiscipline, a penalty also converted by Durham.

With the score being pulled back to 20-17 York needed to be lead from the front and with great work again from Weir and Callis at the breakdown York got a march on the Durham line once more, York new it was vital to use this momentum and after some great phases from the back line the ball was brought up to the Durham line. York saw this the perfect time to bring forth their trump card the man mountain that is Rupert Grant, with some backs in his sight on the Durham line Rupert found his target and ploughed over the line to take York to a 25-17 lead and after the conversion from Grant to 27-17. Despite some last ditch tackling from Callis using his head instead of his shoulders York came out on top 27-20 with another great win.

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