As the score-line suggests York delivered a comprehensive and resounding 89 point drumming of Sunderland. The real mismatch between the teams was in the quality of their backlines: York with talent in abundance in this area proved all too much for Sunderland with stand-in fly half Matt Pollen picking up five tries. Lacking Mortimer, full back Tom ‘Bummer’ Morris was also clinical in picking up the extra two points, and in all collected 32 points. Scrum-half Woodley showed his class once again and was particularly efficient with the boot finding Pollen or Gabriel on the end of every kick as regularly as clockwork.  Terrager (T-bag) also collected a hat trick of tries and all the rest of the backline also added themselves to the score board except Woody. No tries did came from numbers 1 to 8.

Nevertheless as any forward will attest, had it not been for the energy about the park, mastery of the lineout’s and all around commitment, the backs wouldn’t have had a ball to play with and the bigger Sunderland pack may have made more of an impression. As it happens the Sunderland pack did have their moment despite resolute York defence and through an endless series of crash balls and consecutive rhino’s they finally managed to cross York’s line. However that was the only sniff Sunderland were allowed all game and had it not been for some very suspect fly hacking coming from open-side flanker Sam Morrisson the Bumblebees could well have picked up a Century. Indeed it was only on his third kicking display instead of picking up the ball and running with it that Morrisson was able to convince the team that his man of the match performance in fact translated to dick of the day!

In all it is a very positive result for the 2nd XV as they now home their sights on promotion into northern conference league 2, yet they do require maximum points from all five remaining games and still have league contenders York St John 1st XV and Sheffield Hallam 2nd XV’s to play. Prediction: York will get promoted after tight games against St John and Hallam as long as they remain injury free and their focus at training remains at match intensity.

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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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Still reeling from the heavy defeat of the previous week, an apprehensive Will Tate and his equally anxious team boarded the coach for Newcastle, the league leaders, hoping to return to winning ways. Traffic had delayed arrival and a less than satisfactory warm up did little to relieve the unease amongst the squad.
From the kick off however, it seemed such anxiety was misplaced. York immediately took control of the game.

Phil Johnston and James Garmston combined seamlessly in the lineout, providing clean ball for the backs. Adam Wood, recovered from the horror pass that gave Morty flashbacks to the Dudley era, whipped the ball to James Mortimer and a well executed set play saw Freshman Gabriel Adejeti over in the corner for the first score. Further success was to follow for the intrepid travellers. Revelling in the space afforded them by James Mortimer’s intelligent distribution and the rumbustuous Matt Cannon’s direct running, and with Chris Reid-Milligan and Will Tate’s clever support play fixing defenders in the centre there was ample time and space for the back three to stretch their legs. Ollie Tilney sprinted the length of the pitch to double York’s advantage, before Rishi Bojangles crashed over from close range for a further score. Wing Pete Teragger, on sabbatical from the first team, was also causing problems and could have had a first half hat-trick if it wasn’t for superb Newcastle defence.
The second half was no different. Immediately Guy Holder-Williams, on for the classy Sam Morrison, embarked on a memorable run. The ‘Guscott hip swerve’, for which Holder-Williams has become famous, was on full show as he went past defender after defender. Unfortunately he was stopped metres before the line, thus depriving him of stunning comeback score.

Ben James Parrett on the other hand crowned his comeback from the wilderness of college rugby with a well taken try in the corner. Gabriel Adejeti finished another try, and Pete Teragger got the try his performance deserved with a fine take off an inch perfect cross field from the ever classy James Mortimer.

Captain Will Tate remarked after the game that he had asked for the team to be more ruthless in attack, and was pleased the outside backs provided the clinical edge the team had lacked the week before.

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The Cup. A relatively easy draw. A chance to progress past the first round. Such positivity seemed well founded until arrival at Leeds and the realisation that despite playing Leeds 3rd XV they had instead chosen to field their 2nd XV.
York did not start well, errors in defence and attack, saw Leeds score at will, their big runners causing havoc in the visitors defence, and by half time the score was a chastening 28-0. Captain Will Tate was not best pleased and implored his team start playing rugby. This they did. George Wissen came on to shore up the scrums, shrugging off his man flu to star in a man of the match performance. And within ten minutes of the restart the score was 28 -19. An intercept score form Des Pollen had proved a catalyst for some fantastic attacking play which saw York cross for two more well deserved tries. The eclectic Carmony, Limerick’s answer to Carlos Spencer, showed his quality executing a cross field kick into the arms of the onrushing Pollen to take the score to 28 – 14. Before a converted try from Ryan Johnston cut Leeds lead to nine points.
This is how it stayed until the final few minutes, when following a raft of Leeds substitutions, the home team managed to take advantage of York’s flagging defence with some fine offloads and tries.
Will Tate, although disheartened by the defeat, was impressed by the manner in which the team had responded to his halt time ponderings. He philosophically reflected that the team had learnt far more in defeat than they would have in victory.

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In a tightly contested game, it was substitute James Mortimer that proved the difference. A masterful display at fly-half was capped with a superb drop goal that gifted the home side the lead midway through the second half. Mortimer was only on the field due to an injury, but he showed characteristic class as he wrested control of the match from the visitors.
Despite wet conditions York went into the game still determined to display the attacking verve that typifies their style of rugby. However it was this loyalty to width combined with a greasy ball that saw them concede the first try. Poor handling amongst the backs saw the ball fall to the floor and a lucky fly hack from a Sheffield three quarter was pounced on over the line for the first score.
With a young and inexperienced pack led by the unflappable Phil Johnson, York struggled to find a rhythm. With the forwards ‘under the cosh’ it was left to Mortimer’s deft kicking game and some strong running from centre, Matt ‘Lucy’ Robinson, to provide the home team with valuable territory. Only small errors stopped York from drawing level. However, it was fine try line defence from debutant Jason Cross, that made sure the score was only 7-0 at half time.
The second half proved very different. With the York forwards finally gaining the ascendancy in the tight, it was time for the backs to cut loose. A superbly taken try from Rishi Bojangles cut the deficit, before a penalty and then a drop goal from Mortimer saw York take the lead. Sheffield tried to pin York back with their kicking game but it was to no avail. A final try from Gabriel Atediji, sealed the win in some style.

The second half proved very different. With the York forwards finally gaining the ascendancy in the tight, it was time for the backs to cut loose. A superbly taken try from Ollie Tilney cut the deficit, before a penalty and then a drop goal from Mortimer saw York take the lead. Sheffield tried to pin York back with their kicking game but it was to no avail. A final try from Gabriel Atediji, sealed the win in some style.

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