For the second home game of the year York welcomed Heath who have recently been a bogey team for the home side, the only team to whom we lost twice last season, and we also suffered defeat in the away fixture earlier in the campaign. York second in the league were wanting to put the defeat in the last game against Huddersfield behind them and continue to put pressure on the Scunthorpe at the top of the table. Heath had not started the season well but had put a number of wins together including 3 on the trot before today’s game to take them to fourth in the league.

The pitch, after been frozen last week was in a good condition, the weather dry but cold. The visitors brought a large number of supporters with them who provided vocal support throughout the game.

York started the game well and took the game to the visitors and after only a few minutes appeared to have scored but the referee spotted an infringement and the try was disallowed. They continued to press and were awarded a penalty at the first scrum which they kicked to the corner but lost the lineout and the chance was lost. Heath then had time on the ball and put pressure on the home side, but a scrum penalty allowed York to clear to the visitors 10 metre line. Winger Zak Burlingham then made ground and from broken play Harry Shackleton made a break and scored under the posts. His conversion was successful. The score 7-0 after 30 minutes.

From the kick off crowd favourite Lewi Jackson made 40 metres with one of his trademark bullocking runs and several phases later Archie Fothergill scored under the posts. Harry Shackleton put over the conversion to take the score to 14-0 after 33 minutes. For the home side it was the high point of the game.

From the kick off Heath attacked and earned a penalty on the York 22, although kickable they ran the ball and although York kept them at bay it was at the cost of further penalties and eventually the referee lost patience and yellow carded Jonty Atkinson. Heath kicked to the 5 metre line and scored from the resulting catch and drive. The conversion was missed. The score 14- 5 after 36 minutes. The visitors felt that they could score again before half time and should have but a pass went to ground. They continued to attack and York were pleased to hear the referee blow to bring the half to an end.

The home supporters hoped that half time would allow their team to regroup as momentum was with the visitors. York started the second half on the attack, but it was not long before Heath began to enjoy territory and possession, interlinking well between forwards and backs and putting the York defence under severe pressure. 6 minutes into the half and after several penalties and no sooner than the home side were back to 15 players a further yellow card was issued by the referee. Unsurprisingly Heath opted for a scrum and used the extra man to score in the corner. The conversion was missed. The score now 14-10.

From the kick off the visitors conceded a penalty which Harry Shackleton scored with ease to increase the lead to 7 points. From the kick off it was York’s turn to concede a penalty, although kickable Heath opted for a scrum and again used the extra man to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but the deficit now only 2 points after 16 minutes.

York then tried hard to get back into the game and forced the visitors to concede a penalty on their 22 metre line which Harry Shackleton scored to increase the lead to 5 points after 27 minutes. Would they be able to build on their lead? Unfortunately not as the power and size of the Heath pack began to tell. This together with a change of their fly half made the difference. He kicked for position and the visitors began to strangle York’s more expansive game and starve the home side of possession. Their first score was a penalty followed by 2 converted tries in the last 10 minutes to take the final score to 20-32.

The visitors were deserved winners. York were unable to deal with their large pack and as a result the scrum which is usually rock solid was under pressure throughout the game as was the line out resulting in a lack of clean ball which gave fewer opportunities to the backs. Next week York look to bounce back when they travel to Driffield.