College rugby kicks off

Last year’s college rugby finalists Derwent and James both got their campaigns of to winning starts.

Two matches featured on the pitches in Acomb, Derwent edging a closely fought match against a newly formed Halifax side, while the blues’ closest rivals James produced a strong all round display to defeat a well built Goodricke side.

DERWENT 29-10 HALIFAX

Derwent, looking to defend their championship crown, started with only five of the same team which started the final last year. One of the old guard Oliver Wessely kicked off proceedings as the warm wintry sun shone over the York RI pitches.

Halifax made an early statement of intent. The whites, having withstood early pressure within their half, moved out of it with strong running from inside centre Joseph Cormack. His timed pass fed John Watson, who promptly delivered it to Winger Jake Baldwin who finished the length of the pitch move with aplomb. It put the ‘Fax 5-0 up as James McNeill conversion cannoned off the under side of the posts.

Derwent made a quick response. Luca Illing had been producing some remarkable catches from the lineout, and on the Halifax five-metre line the Bangkok-based lock caught a line-out throw from which captain Tolga Necar scored from the Henry Guest marshalled maul. Wessely couldn’t add the extras, so the score remained even at 5-5.

However the score wasn’t to remain that way. The Derwent backs were pulling their rehearsed moves out to great effect. It was no surprise when the jinxing Jamie Criswell bagged the first of his two tries from a well-formulated move. His second minutes later saw him finish a backs move again but on the other wing. Wessely was on hand to notch both conversions, and push the score to 19-5 at half time.

Straight after the interval, Halifax found themselves back in their own half. Derwent’s kicking game was proving surprisingly useful, the pressure of being in their own half saw the Halifax no. 8 make some acrobatic dives to make sure the ball went into touch.

In a similar set move to the first try, the Derwent pack rolled a maul over the try line, Flanker Josh Clewes being the man to score on his debut for the team. Halifax did not hide away and through several recycled phases of play the men in white got a try back, 3rd year debutant Jake Mundy scoring in the corner.

At 24-10 the match was in the balance once again. However, the contest was put to bed by Derwent winger Adam Seldon, the fresher put his side into a 29-10 lead with a try in the corner finishing a well-supported move.

James McNeill, Halifax Captain in defeat, felt his side showed great promise ahead of the new season.
‘The new boys blended really well with us old lot, despite losing today we can be really happy with our performance’

Derwent Captain Tolga Necar, a spectator for much of the match as he gives time for himself to recuperate from his summer’s John O’Groats to Lands End walk said, ‘I had a right old look at all the fresh faces in the team and overall was pleased with the final outcome’.

JAMES 39-0 GOODRICKE

James overcame Goodricke in both sides’ first match of the season to avenge their defeat at the hands of their opponents in the 10s last year.

Both teams, putting out a large percentage of freshers for their college rugby initiation, gave a good spectacle for college sport.

In a far more evenly contested game than the score line suggested, Goodricke started the stronger, putting James under pressure in their own 22 forcing James to play a territory game for the first 10 minutes.

However on the day when the All Blacks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time in 24 years, James’ forward dominance soon prevailed as Goodricke failed to establish a platform for their promising backline to fire.

James’ backline, sporting a couple of new combinations, soon took advantage of their forwards’ effort with tries from Tom Prifti and Matt Collins both converted by Benji Brummitt.

Brummitt then kept the scoreboard ticking over by slotting over a couple of penalties due to Goodricke indiscipline in the ruck. Handling issues and fitness of both sides soon started coming into play as the rustiness of a first game took its toll.
However the forward dominance of James continued to be the main factor in the game, as tries came after the break from flanker Alex Prowse and winger Collins which were again converted by Brummitt.

Goodricke’s effort and commitment cannot be underestimated as they had several opportunities to cross James’ line scuppered only by last ditch tackling from the men in black, showing again how Goodricke are rapidly improving as a college side.