York played their ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card to secure victory in the dying minutes of a game that by all rights Percy Park should have won. A growing injury list is taking its toll as we head into the tail end of what, judging by the players’ demeanour in the first half at least, seems to be a long season. The biggest changes impacted the back line with Liam Hessay making a return to First XV rugby at Full Back, Will Fordy starting at inside centre with George Davies at stand off to cover the absence of Harry Shackleton. Petty, Layne and Reed all getting an opportunity to sample rugby in North East 1 from the bench.

The afternoon started with a minute’s silence in memory of former Club Captain Dave Dorking who we lost at a tragically young age of 55. A great club man on and off the field. Rest in Peace Dave.

York kicked off proceedings but it was Percy Park who hit the ground running, combining lively running and slick handling in the backs with strong carrying by the pack, they pinned York into their own half for pretty much all of the first half. York by contrast looked sluggish, were slow to the breakdown and presented the wrong pictures as it is described these days to the referee Mr Kristian Garland, who did not hesitate to penalise them. With penalties against York coming more frequently than London buses in the rush hour, Percy Park were able to set up camp in York’s 22 m area. Fortunately for York, Spowart didn't have his kicking boots with him, missing an early opportunity to open the scoring. Despite robust defensive efforts, Percy Park opened the scoring after ten minutes with an effective driving maul wide on the left. Spowart missed the conversion, York 0 Percy Park 5.

The score seemed to spur York in to some effort and urgency and they quickly responded with a score of their own. A clearance kick was picked up by York on their 10 m line on the left-hand side of the pitch. A good return set up phase ball in the middle of the field before Goulding and Hessay combined down the right for Hessay to go over. The try converted by Davies, York took the lead very much against the run of play. 7 points to 5.

Percy Park quickly resumed their onslaught before being reduced to 14 men when Reekie was yellow carded for a high tackle. This didn't seem to impact them too much as they maintained their pressure on York’s line for extended periods. Good defensive work kept them out and eventually forced the error of a knock on to relieve the pressure. Penalties were exchanged as the score board flipped and flopped in contradiction to the one sidedness of the game, before Percy Park scored their second try, again from a driving maul, this time from the lineout. Conversion missed; York were trailing 10 - 13 at half time.

York came out with more urgency in the second half and generated a tempo that Percy Park found difficult to cope with, their solid forwards seemingly starting to run out of fuel. Sustained pressure in the Percy Park 22, resulted in Davies opening the scoring in the second half cutting a nice line against the flow of play to score to the right of the posts. He made no mistake converting his own try and brought York back into the lead,17- 13.

The energy was short lived and York were giving penalties away again which kept giving Percy Park opportunities to stay in the game and win it. Some were undeserved. York who had been dominating the scrum for most of the game had Percy Park on the rack again and were pushing them back at a rate of knots. When the scrum turned, York were deemed to be not pushing straight. Some on the touchline looked on sceptically having seen the Percy Park scrum fold down one side under the pressure. Harsh decision.

Percy Park were next to break the whitewash with another driving maul wide on the right. Spowart who had had an indifferent day with his boot made no mistake slotting the ball cleanly in the middle of the uprights in contradiction to the author’s confident assertion he would miss again. Percy Park went back into a three point lead, 17 - 20 as I ate my words.

Atkin called on all his experience to marshal his troops urging them not to panic; work the position, execute when we get the opportunity. And so they did, working their way down the left into the opposition half before moving the ball right and finding Hessay in the gap to cross without a hand laid on him and secure the game for York. Final score York 22 Percy Park 20.

If rugby matches were won on effort alone then Percy Park should have won this game convincingly, but you also have to take your chances. When York turned up the tempo, they were a better side. For a lot of the game though, they seemed disinterested. Secure in the league but without a realistic chance of promotion, that may be a logical mindset.

Next week is the semi-final of the Yorkshire cup. York play Middlesbrough who are riding high in North East 2 and may be joining us next season in North East 1. Since its formation in 1928, York have never won t‘owd tin pot. Now if that is not something to stir the juices, and rejuvenate some interest, then what is?

York: Hessay, Burlingham, Atkinson, Fordy, Rae, Davies, Atkin, Westaby, White, Consterdine, Russell, Croft, Goulding, Fothergill, Du Boulay. Rep: Petty, Layne, Reed.
Percy Park: Spowart, Stock, Reece, Bartles-Smith, Kench, Carey, German, Smith A, Shuttleworth, Grant, Digman, Reekie, Smith J, Dubois, Laughlin. Rep: Birkett, Newbound, Hara.