Clifton Park development squad upset form book to down the Knights

12:04pm Saturday 17th May 2008

YORK RUFC'S development squad ripped up the form book to record a memorable 16-5 victory over Doncaster Knights Academy in the Yorkshire Cup final at Harrogate's Claro Road ground.

The Knights had comfortably topped Yorkshire One and York's Under-19s had been crushed 35-0 and 25-0 by their rivals, so started the game as unfancied underdogs.

But the side that took the field for York have an enviable record in finals and have never lost a showpiece since winning their first Yorkshire Cup at U9s level.

York's game relied on securing good field position with their kicking game before moving the ball wide quickly and attacking down the flanks.

Doncaster, on the other hand, looked to assert their authority through their powerful tight five but, for the first time this season, York's pack was the Knights' equal.

Milligan, White and Fraser in the front row, along with Watson and Fox in the second, produced quality ball time and time again.

Although York enjoyed total field position supremacy in the first half, Downey missed two penalties so it was relief all around when he was able to slot his third.

As half-time beckoned, he doubled his total to give York a six point lead at the break, despite careless infringements nearly undoing their hard earned work.

The second half followed a very similar pattern with scrum-half Johnson and stand-off Page playing the game ten yards in front of the Doncaster tight five, who were visibly tiring.

After more sustained pressure, McTurk tapped and went from a quickly taken penalty. York's attack was eventually halted five yards out but, when the ball went wide, Foxley cut back against the desperate scrambling defence to score the game's first try, Downey's conversion moving York into a 13-0 lead.

A difficult Downey drop goal made it 16-0, but Doncaster never gave in and, late in the second half, a grubber kick into the York in goal area saw the Clifton Parkers' defence stretched for the only time in the game.

The Knights touched down but it was a mere consolation with York holding out comfortably for the remaining two minutes to record a superb triumph.

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