The Foresters made the short journey over to York with a couple of squad changes following last week’s victory over Doncaster Phoenix and were forced into late starting changes with a car load having traffic issues en-route. These changes made for a sluggish start, and midfield stalemate ensued for the first 15 minutes with solid defence from both sides until a smart move finished with York scoring wide out. The conversion was missed.
This slight setback seemed to kickstart the Foresters into more positive play and Rory MacNab converted a simple penalty from in front of the posts (the beginning of a 100% day from the tee).
A spell of 20 minutes of pressure completed the half. Firstly inside centre Will Bell crossed to the right hand side of the posts following 15 phases of play finished off by a good off load out of contact by left winger Oli Cicognini to the supporting Bell. MacNab converted.
More pressure told and following a good scrum 5 yards out by the forwards the beneficiary was scrum half Will Lawn who dummied and darted over by the posts, again converted by MacNab.
Half time 17-5.
Playing down the slope in the second half you would have thought that the Foresters would have kicked on from the final 20 minutes of the first half, but it was York who again opened the scoring when following a penalty and line out they crossed wide out. The conversion was missed.
This setback seemed once again to kickstart the Foresters with some possession continuity from all 15 players. The forwards and backs linked well resulting in a well worked try scored by last weeks hat-trick hero blindside/lock Jacob Taylor who crossed following a storming 15 yard run. MacNab converted.
Again the Foresters pressed for more points and this resulted in outside centre Ben Parkinson finishing from 20 yards following a flowing move down field with Will Lawn and Josh Prell. MacNab again converted. The scoring did not end there but it was York who troubled the scorers before the final whistle with a converted try following an interception.
All 21 players grafted hard in testing conditions against a good York side. It had not been a vintage Foresters performance but a win kept the 100% league record intact.
Wharfedale: – 1. G Martin, 2. A Stubbs, 3. S Booker, 4. B Leacock, 5. E Stockton, 6. J Taylor, 7. T Whyte (c), 8. J Metcalfe, 9. W Lawn, 10. R MacNab, 11. O Cicognini, 12. W Bell, 13. B Parkinson, 14. E Gill, 15. T Mann.
Replacements: – 16. J Parkinson, 17. J Wells, 18. J Fawcett, 19. M Bell, 20. J Prell.