York’s 1st XV suffered a narrow 19-15 loss to Sheffield’s 1sts on 22 acres on Wednesday, with captain James Faktor admitting they succumbed to the ability of a ‘slightly better team’.
Despite their defeat, York put in a fine defensive display, absorbing several prolonged periods of Sheffield pressure, and it is testament to their battling defensive efforts that the men in black were pushing for the win until the very last.
Sheffield enjoyed much of the early territory in an error strewn opening. Knock-ons and conceded penalties caused the possession to switch frequently but York struggled to reach the opposition half until the ten minute mark.
When they did begin to make some quick yards they had the Sheffield defence rattled. Several quick bursts of play saw them break into the 22 before fly half Tom Chadwick attempted an ambitious cross-field kick which didn’t quite have the legs to find the onrushing Richard Bremner. Nevertheless, York regained possession and their forwards set up play five metres out. Chadwick spread the ball blind and it was Gabriel Adebiyi who was there to score in the corner and put York 5-0 up.
Sheffield came straight back at York, but despite making their way right onto the home side’s try-line, couldn’t find a way past the wall of black shirts, who eventually turned the ball over and allowed Chadwick to clear.
York’s phase play was superior to that of their opponents in the opening period, and they were patient in possession. Watson almost capitalised on this patience when he broke through the defence with an excellent running line after multiple phases, but Matt Pollen knocked on his offload.
Sheffield, however, looked the more dangerous side on the counter, and had the ability in their side to score trys from anywhere. They had their first after 25 minutes, as their blindside winger used his pace to break several tackles down the left flank and go over in the corner. Their fly half converted well to give his side a 7-5 lead.
Sheffield added to this lead not long after the half hour mark. Whereas York had earlier failed with a cross-field kick attempt, the men in hoops made no mistake with theirs. The ball was launched high and one simple offload was enough after the catch for the away side to score in the corner and make it 12-5.
Both sides had opportunities to increase their tallies before half time, but neither was fruitful. York scrum half Will Ward chased down his own grubber to set his side up in the opposition 22 before Chadwick aimed a grubber of his own for the corner and the pacey Will Sharp, who couldn’t quite reach the ball before it bobbled dead.
Sheffield’s fly half then missed a long range penalty on the stroke of half time, leaving York with a 5 point deficit at the break.
Both sides started the second half with urgency. Sheffield looked certain to bag themselves a lucky try early on after a box kick bounced straight into the hands of their grateful inside centre. He offloaded to the rapid centre partner who looked to be heading for the line, only for Will Ward to stop him with a superb try saving tackle.
Sheffield continued to exert a huge amount of pressure on the York try-line, but the home defence was faultless once again. They soaked up drive after drive on their own line before winning the ball and clearing away.
Their hard work was then rewarded with three points, as Chadwick slotted a penalty between the posts 15 minutes into the half after some foul play from the Sheffield forwards in the ruck.
At 12-8, York were right back in the game but were forced to once again hold off waves of powerful Sheffield before they could add to their tally any further. York’s defensive tackles were as relentless as the Sheffield attack, and the home side’s pressure eventually forced their opponents all the way back to the ten metre line.
York won a penalty and made ground with the kick, before spreading the ball across the back line. Chadwick then produced one of his favourite grubber kicks towards the corner, and this time it came off. Hugo Watson collected the carefully directed ball and went over to give York the lead. Chadwick converted well to make it 15-12, setting up an enthralling finish with just 15 minutes remaining.
Unfortunately for York however, the ending was far more enthralling for the opposition fans. After numerous attempts to break down the wall, the Sheffield forwards finally succeeded 70 minutes in. Their fly half matched Chadwick’s earlier conversion to make it 19-15, leaving York in need of a late try to snatch back the victory.
The men in black pressed hard but didn’t quite have enough, the Sheffield defence holding firm to give them the all important points.
‘I’m disappointed’, said York captain James Faktor after the final whistle. ‘A good big team beats a good little team in rugby, and they just had a little bit more than we did. We gave it everything; I’ve never come of the pitch with a group of guys so tired. They left everything on the pitch. This isn’t as disappointing as the Leeds Met defeat when we know we should have won. They were slightly better than us and we’ll come back from this’.