With both teams on a winning run York R I on the annual bus trip away was always going to be a tough encounter. A cracking pitch on a perfect day for rugby saw Ossett get the early initiative and work their way up into the York half where York conceded a penalty. Choosing to kick and get early points on the door didn’t go to plan when the kick went wide. Shortly after the York kicker didn’t miss and York took an early lead.

Ossett took the lead though when Jason Kay scored his first of two tries to carry on his scoring streak for Ossett with a well worked try. Having been on top for the first twenty minutes Ossett let it slip and York punished them, running in three tries before the break. Stand out in the first half was Mark Fisher and Ben Jennings who tackled hard and Fisher, with some of the best clearing out of the half, prevented York going over again who were very quick to get over the ball at the ruck and turn it over. Ossett were unlucky to lose Elliot Gierula early on after someone did a number on his ribs but he was replaced by Paul Westerman, having been dragged off the second team pitch. Once again Jonny Karadzic, so excellently photographed in last Fridays Wakefield Express, and Danny Buckley paired up with both taking any and every opportunity to run the ball in. The first half finished 20-5 but some Ossett changes were about to pay off in the second half.

Nathan Spurr and Mark Buckborough came on for the start of the second half and Nathan immediately made himself known to the York defence. Running hard with the power of a diesel locomotive and a deft of hand Dynamo would be proud of when offloading in the tackle. Mark also quick in attack and ran it in hard against the York pack. This made way for Kay to score his second try with a jinking run through the York line. York, pinned back, managed to escape from their own 22 metre and score under the sticks for their bonus point.

Ossett’s play of the game came when Alan Grogan saw Joe Rotchell calling for the ball on an open field and a nifty punt over the top saw Rotchell beat the winger with the turn of pace of a Japanese bullet train and collect the ball for Ossett’s third try and with only 5 minutes left Ossett were on the up. A quick kick off saw Ossett not quite ready for the York counter but this sucked York into one half of the pitch only to get turned over and leave room for Fish to fly to the corner. Leigh Learie, once again outstanding in the loose, stepped up to kick this one from the touch line and slotted it neatly between the posts.

90 seconds left, 5 points in it. A clean take from the kick off saw Chris White carry the ball up and produce quick ball at the ruck which carried on for two more phases until an unfortunate knock on saw the whistle blow and the game end with York Railway Institute running out 27-22 winners.

Both teams at home next week with 1st XV against Knaresborough in the Cup and 2nd XV against Morley 3rd XV in the league.

MOM Points – 5 - N Spurr, 4 – J Karadzic, 3 – A Grogan, 2 – C North, 1 – J Rotchell & M Buckbrough

Tries: Kay 2, Rotchell, Fisher
Conversions: Learie