By Roger Baxter
York’s foremost rugby team overcame some recent setbacks in the best way possible yesterday, winning at a canter against an overmatched Northumbria second string. The visitors were simply unable to cope with such strong offensive running from the back line when allied with the York pack’s bruising power play, and the 31-0 scoreline fully reflected York’s superiority.
After a spirited opening few minutes, full-back Richard Bremner touching down after a flowing move was capped by ruthless exploitation of the extra man. Pete Tarrega soon made the score 10-0 after an umpteen-phased attack, but fly-half Tom Bugge was unable to convert either try, perhaps understandable due to the swirling 22 Acres gust and the tries’ being scored right in the corner of the pitch.
Uncharacteristically for the game so far, there then followed a period of Northumbria pressure, which was seen off with admirable clear-headedness from the York defence. Similarly shaken off was an injury to Bremner on the stroke of half-time, which the full-back recovered from enough to soldier on.
The scoreboard was called into action almost immediately following the restart. James Mortimer, promoted to kicking duties following the substitution of Bugge, converted a penalty to make it 13-0. From then on the game was almost all York, with the hosts threatening to break through at almost every stage of the game. Having established a base camp in the opposition 22, Rory McGregor touched down to stretch the lead to 18-0, soon to be 20-0 when Mortimer converted. Try followed try. Jack Miles went over. Matt Pollen went over. Northumbria heads went down.
When the smoke had cleared and the final whistle had blown, 31 points separated the two sides. The win erased the spectre of a shock loss to Leeds 2nds last week, and while the continued form of Manchester 1sts makes promotion unlikely, the fixture list is far from complete; mathematics, if not probability, is still on the side of the 1sts.
Bit of a “mish mash” report here.
“Uncharacteristically for the game so far, there then followed a period of Northumberland pressure, which was seen off with admirable clear-headedness from the York defence”
I wouldn’t have said that the Northumbria (not Northumberland) pressure was uncharacteristic in the game. They did have a fair few plays in possession but just failed to execute the final play/ York’s forwards were just much more organised.