Scunthorpe had the breeze to their backs on a pitch that was a credit to the groundsman. They had the better of the early exchanges. A good kick to touch deep in the York half had the league leaders expecting the usual catch and drive but a ball switched back and down to James Dyson saw him swerve down the blind side to score the opening try. As the half progressed the spectators were treated to some excellent rugby with York putting together some flowing moves and the Greens 10 Ethan Taylor kicking deep into the visitor’s half to set up attacking positions. How ever both sides defended so well that it was half an hour into the game before Scunthorpe pressure forced two penalties that were converted by the ever improving goal kicking of Will Robinson. This gave a half time score of 11-0.
The York side opened the second half playing the rugby that had taken them to the top of the division. Their interplay between forwards and backs forced the Greens back and the fierce visitor’s tackling, and the breeze, thwarted the Scunthorpe efforts to clear their lines. Inevitably their influential 10 Harry Shackleton put his strong running centre, Angus Barrick, into a gap for a converted York try. Although defending well the Greens continued to struggle. The kicks out of defence, into the wind, were not so effective and the determined York tackling was forcing penalties when they tried to run the ball. One such penalty brought the score to 11-10. Fortunately after 15 minutes of the half the run of play began to swing back to the home side. It could be visitors were tiring or the breeze dropping but Scunthorpe were now the team driving into the York half and a forwards drive enabled Ben Hyde, who gave a masterclass performance at number 8, to touch down for a converted try. The Greens were now in charge and following powerful rucking and mauling drives by their pack a flowing back’s move saw full back Lewis Talbot glide up into the line, and a gap in the York defence, to score his side third try. The now rampant Scunthorpe pack took a driving maul over the line for a, converted, bonus point try. With a visiting player yellow carded for pulling down another driving maul a final catch and drive enabled the dynamic Will Harrison, on his first game back for the Greens after injury, to score the games last, converted try to give a final score of 37-13.
To beat the formidable York side so convincingly in what is the best Scunthorpe performance in two and a half years (when we beat Newport away) rewards all the hard work the players have put in on the training pitch. It should also be noted that we have benefited from a vintage crop of youngsters for which our colts and mini/juniors must be credited.