Roses women’s rugby: York 1sts 15-5 Lancaster 1sts

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Photos: Oona Venermo

York put in a polished performance to take a comfortable win to exercise any demons they may have had from last years crushing 70-6 loss.

The first half was one in which scoring was few and far between, but a fierce battle reigned at the heart of the pitch.

A cast iron defensive line, frustrated the Lancastrian outfit. Not only that, but York’s impressive forward pack were quick to pounce and smother any loose balls, making Lancaster rue their mistakes.

The breakthrough finally came within the last ten minutes of the first half and it was not a flash of red bursting through a dogged York defensive line, but a light-footed Morven Robertson, playing at fly half, who managed to slip through a wave of attempted tackles, the number 20 finally being brought down only metres from the try line.

Lancaster’s defence was then hammered by a wave of forward play, the ball kept tightly in York’s possession, pinning the opposition on the back foot. Susie Heron carried over from 5 metres to give York a well fought and deserved 5-0 lead.

A glimpse of the style which exploited York’s defence so heavily in previous years was enough to draw Lancaster level in the last play of the half.

A try seemed to appear from thin air as Lancaster worked the ball to their number 11 in their own half, who then ran the length of the pitch to touch down coolly on York’s turf for the first and last occasion of the match.

The second half may have been shrouded by injury, but York returned to the pitch with verve and fight, forcing an immediate knock on from a Lancastrian hand.

The consequent scrum showed that Lancaster’s forwards’ minds were still wandering around, lost in the changing rooms as York knocked them back with impressive force.

Throughout the early stages of the second half Lancaster was barely able to breach York’s halfway line, unable to secure possession for more than sporadic periods.

A tight competition between both packs had been blown wide open by a disruptive display from York’s forwards in the second period, allowing the Yorkies to demonstrate some exquisite movement of the ball in the backs.

The pressure was mounting at Lancaster’s door in the first twenty minutes, with York coming close on more than one occasion.

A second try was added when a swift backs move found Katherine Underhill unmarked on the wing, with Lancaster’s defence scrambling to reach her, but it was too late as the damage had already been done.

Lancaster paid for their sloppy defensive work and York were 10-5 to the good.

A completely shell-shocked Lancastrian side were stunned by the forceful nature with which York burst into the second half and it did not take long for Morven Robertson to add a third and final try to York’s impressive haul of the day.

Lancaster were left wanting when two blistering break away runs from the number 13 Doyinsola Otunla made Lancaster appear seemingly unable to make a solid tackle.

Robertson, who proved to be a talisman throughout the second half, responsible for much of York’s creative play, was there to carry over in the far corner.

A score much similar to that of York’s opening ceremony at Huntington Park may have been seen had the game not been disrupted by injury.

York gelled well together and dictated the second period of play with little disturbance from Lancaster, who were unable to muster an offense until the dying 10 minutes of the game.

This, however, was not nearly enough to make a seemingly faultless defensive line fall at the final hurdle and York sailed to a comfortable 15-5 victory.