Generous York RUFC pay price (From York Press)

Generous York RUFC pay price against Huddersfield YMCA

9:53am Monday 1st October 2012 in Sport

FRAGILE defence from York RUFC and the aggressive rearguard from hosts Huddersfield YMCA helped to consign the Clifton Parkers to a 29-18 defeat in Yorkshire One.

The pattern of the game saw Huddersfield pressurising the York possession at every opportunity. Each time scrum-half Tom Boyle laid hands on the ball at back of the ruck the hosts were all over him like a rash.

On ten minutes such pressure saw a poor kick from Billy Cakaunitabua fail to find touch and the YMCA ranks countered to score.

After 14 minutes a good break by Eddie Bradshaw led to the referee playing a good advantage which saw York continue with the drive for Darren Rutherford to score.

York were now on the front foot and twice saw good field position coughed up. The visitors also wasted chances to test the home defence, a Hugh Nicholson hack ahead skewing into touch and a good counter attack from a poor Huddersfield kick saw Bradshaw pass over Cakaunitabua’s head.

Flimsy tackling allowed Ben Hill to score under the York posts before Ben Johnson’s penalty trimmed the York arrears to 12-8 by half-time.

The second half saw a change in tactics by the YM forwards who started to compete at the breakdown through counter rucking at every opportunity. York were slow to react to this and were turned over a number of times.

Only a textbook try-saving tackle by Atkinson initially and then by Will Enslin on his own line saved York.

After 14 minutes York managed to build some pressure and Johnson, who was forced back inside by the home midfield rush defence, dropped an excellent goal with his left foot to put York only a point adrift.

But Huddersfield rallied when good pressure at the scrummage by the York pack saw the way forward on the open side of the field blocked by advancing York defence. Ed Barber caught York napping and crossed.

York gifted another try as the home number eight tip-toed around the dozing York blindside defence for Stead to run 50 yards to the York try-line.

Deep into the second half Huddersfield’s Ed Barber had the freedom of the park and ran past two hapless defensive attempts to score under the posts. This was converted to 29-11.

However, York had the last say. Stern forward pressure enabled Enslin to crash over from short range, Johnson converting.