The University of York Rugby Union Football Club

Another Wednesday, some might say York’s favorite day of the week had arrived on the 11th of November and the team in front of them this week was Manchester 2nd team. On a sunny autumnal day perfect for running rugby York were focused on furthering their 1a campaign with another victory at the expense of the traveling opposition. Richard Bremner, Kit King, was once again confident of victory upon the arrival of the opposition, the complete lack of a matching colour scheme in Manchester’s training kit was a sign of things to come in comparison to York’s unified black training strip.

However, after a poor start from York in which balls were passed forward and knocked on it appeared that Manchester were the more organised of the two sides, despite moves not going to plan for York and tempers fraying the York pack took the game by the horns and started dominating the scrum and contact area. With good work from the backs the Manchester line was broken for the first time and with ever reliable Alistair Handy in support, a simple offload leaves Handy to slide in an elegant try, with cries of  champagne rugby from the sidelines. York needed to settle after the early try and use their possession carefully.  However ill-discipline from York led to a penalty attempt for Manchester, luckily for York the opportunity was missed surely realising their error York would correct, focus and get their heads down, the restart from York is returned from the Manchester backline and some missed tackles lead to Manchester scoring their first try of the game.

Another assault, from York this time, on the Manchester line, with quick ball for Rob Grant he had a chance to make up for his missed conversion, unfortunately the double miss pass is intercepted by the Manchester wing who sprints in an easy score. the score now going to 12-5. York heads in hands once more feel like they have seen this try before and with this only being the second time York had gone behind so far this season a lot was needed to turn the game around.  York needed to react swiftly and they did so through the front three, Ben Innes, James Stone and Rupert Grant had taken things into their own hands and with a five meter scrum coming York’s way there was only one conclusion, however instead of Tom Weir the usual scorer of the tremendous 8-man York drive, Tim Walker crossed the Manchester line. This early score settled the York nerves and with the conversion misses from Rob Grant the score moved to 12-12.

With York back in the game the backs saw their opportunity to get into the game also and when Gruffudd Jones put Michael James into space it looked like York would take the lead, and as he was half tackled and bounced over the line York appeared to have taken the lead, however one of the referees many interesting decisions in the match disallowed the try and awarded a penalty to Manchester. Further good backs play saw Tom Bugge put Rich Bremner into space on the wing with great vision from Bremner a delightful chip was placed deep into the Manchester half after a good chase from York turnover was achieved and another 5 meter scrum was awarded to York. After another great decision from the referee disallowing another York try from Tom Weir on this occasion, York eventually drove over once again with Walker stealing another forwards try. the score 17-12.

After the half time break York knew it was crucial to start well and with another one of many penalties conceded by York, Manchester narrowed the gap to 17-15. After this poor start to the half from York the pack once again bailed the team out of further pressure, Handy and McGregor took to the challenge regularly disrupting Manchester ball also aided by some penetrating running form Will Forsyth and Alex Redshaw.

More pressure this time from the York pack lead to another 5 meter scrum, some of the Manchester substitutes turn away on the sidelines possibly aware of the result of such a scrum, and on the 5th attempt the pack finally push Manchester back over their own line and give Weir his first, and some what deserved, try of the game. there was clear headway now between the two sides and York persisted to press home their advantage, another platform set up by Jones this time is driven on by the forwards. And despite Forsyth making a break round the outside and seemingly missing the opportunity to put Walker in for his third try of the game, he instead leaves it to Rupert Grant to reach a big hand down, collect and power over the line taking York seemingly out of sight.

Not content with sitting back on a clear winning position, York continued to press. With great running from James and Jones in the centers and tidy work from the York back row supporting their backs well, Manchester’s defense was in disarray and spotting a gap Rob Grant sees the opportunity to make up for his several missed conversions, after bursting through the gap Grant assesses his options with Felgate one side and Rupert Grant on the other there was only one conclusion. Rupert scoring his second of the game under the posts, well converted by Rob Grant. Another fantastic win 36-15.

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