The league leaders are welcomed to Clifton Park as we are given a Summers day, and a minute’s silence to honour and respect our friend and loyal Clubman, Brian McClure, he will be missed.

York are showing many changes in their lineup, due to an ever mounting injury list, this has decimated the 2ndXV culminating in the fixture with Scunthorpe 2ndXV to be cancelled. Not wanting to make excuses it seems that the depth of available players to many Clubs are really stretching resources, making life difficult for Coaches to prepare teams.

We see very early on in the game both team’s strengths, for Scunthorpe, the rolling maul, going some 40m, also the dominance in their line out. For York the set scrum and the pace and attacking flair from full back, that Ian Hessay gives, Toby Atkin is always a threat to any defence, alert with the ability to pop up anywhere and the natural ability that Harry Shackleton possesses. Numerous penalties are being awarded, many quickly taken tap penalties from both teams, Toby Atkin for York and James Dyson for Scunthorpe providing momentum and go forward movement for both teams. Yellow cards are beginning to itch in the Referees pocket, York are the beneficiaries.

The York powerhouse scrum driving the Scunthorpe eight backwards at a rate of knots, bringing about another source of penalties, unfortunately York are unable to control the ball at the base, at one such scrum the impressive Scunthorpe no8 picks up from the base getting past the York back row advancing 25m into the York 22 then some quick rucks and sweet handling, going from edge to edge allowing Will Robinson to squeeze into the corner, a difficult conversion from the touchline for Ethan Taylor is converted, 23 minutes gone. There follows a period of penalties within kicking distance, eventually York converting one to get on the scoreboard. York 3 Scunthorpe 7

Harry Shackleton then gives us a demonstration of his dancing skills, making a hole where there wasn’t one and through he slips to make an impressive break, support on his shoulder arrives from Toby Atkin, York are unable to finish. The game is now fast and flowing and the Scunthorpe ball carriers are crossing gain lines and going forward, but meeting stout defence, eventually the occupation of the York 22m begins to tell, Lewis Talbot comes from deep to score a well worked try giving Ethan Taylor an easy conversion. York 3 Scunthorpe 14

Kym Russell suffers a back injury and is replaced by John Petty, looking as if he needs my Chiropractor to put his back into place, yes it is painful. York are now fighting their way back into the game, taking advantage of the yellow cards that are being given to the opponents, a rare visit into the York 22 sees a penalty awarded 30m out and in front and Ethan Taylor accepts the chance to convert the opportunity.

With 10 minutes to go and a series of power scrums and the ball is moved to George Davies he runs hard and strong and his momentum and a stretch and a dive takes him over the line for a well taken try by the posts, for Harry Shackleton to convert. York are back in the game at 10-17. York sense either a draw or maybe a win, as they camp on the opponents try line, then the lively Will Robinson makes a clean break of some eighty metres but is brought down in front of the York posts, a penalty is awarded and Ethan Taylor takes the opportunity to take the game away from York. Final Score. York 10. Scunthorpe 20.

An entertaining and hard fought game from two evenly matched teams which could have gone either way.