BUCS Women’s Rugby: Tight draw spells York promotion

Last Wednesday, UYWRUFC capped off an unforgettable season (with an entirely forgettable match) and secured BUCS promotion to Northern 1B following a 0-0 draw against promotion rivals Durham 2nd XV on 22 Acres.

York finished the year with seven wins and a draw from their eight matches, finishing with 22 points from a possible 24 and an incredible points difference of +296, highlighting the strength of the Durham defence.

The White Rose began the match in the knowledge that a draw would ensure promotion, whilst Durham knew only a win would do. Nerves from both sides were prevalent, with uncharacteristic mistakes in attack and poor decisions characteristic throughout the match.

Straight from the kick-off, the Durham second row knocked the ball on, gifting York early possession. They used this to march into the Durham 22, before Durham regained their composure and began displaying the solid defence that made them such a force in the league. the hosts were repeatedly unable to break through due a combination of poor decisions on their part and the quick line speed of the Durham defence preventing the home side from getting the ball to the wing, the source of many a try this season.

From this early onslaught, the match stagnated somewhat due to the staunch defence boasted by both sides. The bright spark of the first half was York’s scrum half Samantha Crichton, whose sniping at the base of rucks and scrums allowed the home side to break the gain line and provide further opportunities for the York pack to hammer at the Durham defence. However, they remained unable to break them down.

The visitors had their first attack of the match right before the end of the first half, and York fullback Rachel Brooke was called upon twice in quick succession to make try-saving tackles, although the second one was of questionable legality and certainly a high hit. She could be considered lucky to escape with only giving away a penalty and a stern word from the referee.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with both sides unable to gain a foothold in the game or take advantage of any half-gaps in midfield, despite strong running from York’s outside centre Connie Samson.

However, the game sparked into life ten minutes from the end as York broke downfield and earned a scrum on the Durham 5 metre line. The White Rose won the scrum and worked the play side to side, but still failed to find a way through. The drama was far from over, as Durham immediately broke back downfield and gained a scrum on the York 5 metre line. These were nervy moments for the home side, living in fear of a season’s worth of incredible effort falling to nothing at the final hurdle.

York, spurred on by the crowd, continued making their tackles and refusing to give away a yard. Finally, as the clock ran out, York regained possession and, fittingly, team captain Molly Staples was on hand to kick the ball into touch and spark wild celebrations from players and fans, alongside a disconsolate and thoroughly dejected Durham side.

It wasn’t pretty. But it was enough.