York recovered form a sleepy start to secure victory against Sandal by 39 points to 28 taking them back into third position in the league. As the business end of the season hots up the effort made by all teams is taking its toll on squad availability. Spurred on, or not, by what is left to play for in the remaining four games of the league campaign it was refreshing to see two sides that are destined to remain in Level 5 rugby, play with commitment and passion and love for the game.

Sandal is never an easy place to come to and late disruptions that interrupted York’s match preparations certainly didn't help. York were forced to raid their second team, fortunately also playing at Sandal, when Jonty Atkinson pulled up in the warm up with a quad strain and traffic delays resulted in Jordan Layne not making the game (evidence this is still very much an amateur game). Russell and Hardie came into the starting XV with Goulding reprising his role on the wing and Fothergill dropping into the back row. Reed and Petty filled the bench leaving the second XV two men short. Sandal had their own selection challenges, carrying a number of injuries and unavailability, most recently Declan Thompson who was red carded at Percy Park last week.

York kicked off down the hill and showed some early enterprise with a break by Shackleton dancing his way into space before placing a teasing grubber kick behind the Sandal back line for Goulding to run onto. Unfortunately, Goulding couldn’t control the difficult ball. Had he done so, he would certainly have scored. Sandal bounced back with the bit between their teeth. Without a league win since mid-December, they were keen to reverse what seems to have become a trend of narrow defeats and their forwards exerted themselves to great effect, particularly Thompson and Wigston, marshalled into good field position with some good tactical kicking from Cyprus International Joannu.

Sandal opened the scoring after only five minutes. Penalised at the scrum for pulling down on their own ball, Joannu positioned the Sandal pack for a five-metre lineout. An area that York have always found difficult to defend, Sandal secured good line out ball and set up the driving maul to good effect going over in the left-hand corner. Hodson made no mistake with the conversion to extend the Sandal lead to 7 points to 0.

Sandal were soon back on the offensive, mixing hard running and accurate passing with some nice lines of running. York seemed to be asleep, the pre-match disruption no doubt having its effect. After 13 minutes Sandal were threatening down the left hand side again. Good open play took them to the York line where hooker Bailey managed to burrow his way over. Though some near the action thought otherwise, the referee had no hesitation in awarding the try which Hodson again converted. Fourteen minutes into the game and York were behind by fourteen points.

At this point, York seemed to wake up and play with more energy and tempo. The dry conditions made it a good day for using the width of the pitch and some quicker phase ball followed by good passing in the midfield found Goulding in space with his opposite number to beat. Goulding cleverly took him out of the game by standing him up and taking contact. In doing so, bouncing off him to open up the field in front of him and cross in the corner. Sandal 14, York 5. York were definitely getting back into the game, the change in momentum evident from the touchline.

York started to play with better tempo, structure and lines of running which had Sandal on the back foot. The scrum provided a good set piece platform though the lineout looked shaky as it has done all season. There then followed a barrage of runs at the line by forwards and backs alike, forcing the defensive penalty from Sandal. Atkin, ever alert, took the quick tap and crossed under the posts. Shackleton converted. The score now Sandal 14, York 12.

York had the momentum but the energy in the Sandal tackling was immense and could be felt in the stand. A timely new addition to the York squad, Hardie is combative beyond his stature but even he had to retire having received a gash to his forehead that couldn't be taped up. The defensive effort didn't deter York who were putting some good patterns together. Further pressure on the Sandal line resulted in Du Boulay crossing under the posts but the pick of the half was Burlingham’s try just before the whistle. Great hands from centres Fordy and Davies under pressure found Burlingham on the wing who had the space and awareness to cross wide on the right to secure the try bonus point. A difficult conversion but Shackleton made good contact and the ball sailed between the uprights to end the half Sandal 14, York 26.

Sandal, backs against the wall facing another defeat, came out for the second half firing on all cylinders. Their back line looked particularly dangerous with ball in hand with some sublime passing out of contact by Kelly to release Hodson, the pace of the Sandal backline caused York’s defence to scramble, only unforced errors caused by their desperation to score keeping Sandal out at times. The game took on a frenetic quality as York applied pressure in the Sandal half and Sandal gave away repeated penalties. Atkin, so frustrated, at one point took the quick tap penalty before the referee had awarded it! Shackleton calmed the nerves by slotting a penalty to extend the lead to a three-score difference: Sandal 14, York 29.

The second half became a game in itself with honours even, both sides scoring two tries each, momentum swinging like a metronome. Even the yellow cards were distributed evenly. Shackleton tried to put Sandal under pressure with spiral bombs that have had many a full back lost but Dyer looked very comfortable under the high ball, and without the follow up from the York tacklers, had time to mobilise the lively Sandal back three, with Hodson in particular showing his ability to run as well as use his boot. Tries by Millard and Hodson for Sandal were cancelled out by tries for Goulding and Russell.

Sandal don’t look a side that should be without a league victory since December but the score was a fair refection of the game, the difference being the quality and consistency from York in the second quarter when they played heads up rugby with tempo.

A special thank you must go to the second XV who fought valiantly with 13 men against a full-strength Sandal team going down by 83 points to 10. Their sacrifice is recognised and provides further evidence of the importance of a second XV and squad depth. Both Petty and Reed made solid contributions to the First XV win.

York: Hessay, Burlingham, Fordy, Davies, Goulding, Shackleton, Atkin, Westaby, Consterdine, Scholey, Croft, Russell, Fothergill, Hardie, Du Boulay. Rep: Jackson, Reed, Petty.

Sandal: Dyer, Hodson, Kelly, Adams L, Bainbridge, Joannu, Ebsworth, Nyambega, Bailey, Burden, Thompson, Wigston, Travis-Carr, Stewart, Millard. Rep: Wheelhouse, Adams J, Roper.