YORK RUFC cruised to a comfortable 32-10 victory over a struggling Scunthorpe outfit.
York’s visitors are propping up the table having only won two of their games so far this season.
York were looking to extend their winning run and maintain the pressure on league leaders Harrogate.
There were several changes from last week’s side.
Dan Evans came into the second row and Sam Forbes on the wing. Last-minute changes brought Paddy Hayes in at number seven and Shane Goulding at number eight.
Former youth player Andre Robson was on the bench for the first time having returned to the club after playing at a higher level.
The visitors kicked off and put York under immediate pressure and after several phases the winger touched down in the corner to open the scoring. The conversion was missed. 0-5 after only three minutes.
York immediately responded and after a further three minutes the pressure forced the visitors to concede a penalty, which Harry Shackleton kicked to reduce the deficit to only two points.
York quickly regained possession and Lewis Jackson, on as a substitute, went on one of his crowd favourites, a bullocking run with the hint of a sidestep. Sufficient to put the visitors on the back foot and culminating with a try for Shane Goulding to take the score to 8-5.
Shortly thereafter another line-breaking run from Lewis took play to the 10-metre line from which playmaker Harry Shackleton scored the try of the game, ghosting through the opposing backs when it seemed to the supporters that he must be tackled. He had no difficulty with the conversion. The score now 15-5 after 38 minutes.
Good interplay between forwards and backs quickly took play back to Scunthorpe’s 22 but they conceded a penalty, and the half-time whistle was blown.
A good half for York but it was clear that the visitors were determined to play rugby and take the play to their hosts.
York kicked off and quickly regained possession and constant pressure finally told when full-back George Davies went in at the corner after fibe minutes. The conversion was missed, the score now 20-5.
From the kick-off York collected possession and kicked to their opponent’s 22, further good interplay between forwards and backs being too much for the Scunthorpe defence and captain Archie Fothergill scored under the posts. The conversion didn’t pose a problem for Harry Shackleton and after eight minutes the lead was now 27-5.
Next the visiting centre ran from the halfway line through a disjointed defence to score in the corner. The conversion was missed. The score now 27-10 after 36 minutes.
This seemed to galvanise York, who straight from the kick-off went on the attack. The tiring visiting side conceded a penalty near to the line and Toby Atkin took it quickly and scored one of his hallmark tries which earned a bonus point. It was not converted. The full time whistle soon followed. Final score 32-10.
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