Yorkshire Rugby

York went 0-24 within 20 minutes then took their foot off the gas for the remainder of the game. Credit to Scarborough for nearly clawing it back. Penalties racked up and up for York, bringing Scarborough into the game. A hard fought contest until the very end. York had them beat up front, but Scarboroughs energy was higher all game. Scarborough should be pleased they came away with 2 points today.

Entertaining but low quality match. No real surprise at the result. The Scarborough crowd were expecting the usual come-back and victory and to be honest despite the makeshift side that still should have been the case.

As is usual this season, the Scarborough side came out and thought they were at a maypole dancing competition and it took them 20 mins to realise they were playing rugby.

Fill in flyhalf Ratcliffe hobbled off early on to add to an already cobbled together side.

Scarborough bossed the tight exchanges and scored two driving maul tries. Scarborough will be happy that the makeshift pack were equal in the scrum with no scrum penalties and both sides 100% success on their ball. Most of Yorks tries came from woeful Scarborough tackling which is unlikely to be repeated again this season.

Scarborough should have nicked it at the end and York were reduced to doing everything they could to slow the game down...can't blame them.

Having said all of that, on a wet, foggy afternoon it was an entertaining game very well refereed by Adam Robson.

I haven't watched York for more than a season now. I don't mind sharing I was more than a little concerned that going to Emma Royds today with the usual abuse from the balcony boo boys. Would only add to a difficult day for York.
But credit to all associated with York in securing a 5 point win.
Hope they can carry that forward to improve their league position.
Well done to Bassey and the boys👍👊🖕

Quote from: backrowbandit on Nov 07, 2026, 07:15 PMEntertaining but low quality match. No real surprise at the result. The Scarborough crowd were expecting the usual come-back and victory and to be honest despite the makeshift side that still should have been the case.

As is usual this season, the Scarborough side came out and thought they were at a maypole dancing competition and it took them 20 mins to realise they were playing rugby.

Fill in flyhalf Ratcliffe hobbled off early on to add to an already cobbled together side.

Scarborough bossed the tight exchanges and scored two driving maul tries. Scarborough will be happy that the makeshift pack were equal in the scrum with no scrum penalties and both sides 100% success on their ball. Most of Yorks tries came from woeful Scarborough tackling which is unlikely to be repeated again this season.

Scarborough should have nicked it at the end and York were reduced to doing everything they could to slow the game down...can't blame them.

Having said all of that, on a wet, foggy afternoon it was an entertaining game very well refereed by Adam Robson.

Equal in the scrum, but the Scarborough pack hurtling backwards in most!

Certainly the first two...but after that not really. And it didn't prevent 100% record.

But well played...you took your chance and we treated you!

Very dominant opening first 40 for Driffield, I don't think Middlesbrough touched the ball in open play for the 15 minutes.
Some cheap penalties gave Middlesbrough a foothold in the game but 7-26 at half time the game looked done.

Credit to Middlesbrough for the 2nd half, they made a real contest after the break which didn't look on the cards for long periods of the 1st half.

Surprised we didn't see any cards for Middlesbrough front row, the scrum was being destroyed, and that's not an exaggeration, Driffield must have been close to double figures for ball against the head at scrum time.

Much needed 5 points

Ilkley 55 v 34 Hull
Very good win for Ilkley and probably shows the MO needed to beat Hull. Play them away from home and keep scoring tries!
   
Middlesbrough 19 v 33 Driffield   
Surprise 1 of the day....not so much that Driff won but the size of it. Have Middlesbrough given up on the league?

North Ribblesdale 19 v 5 Blaydon
Surprise 2 of the day...again more the size of the victory but excellent win for Flaggys boys (I must add that flaggy didn't come to Silver Royd for lunch, so his previous lunch comment is null and void!!)   

Northern 26 v 31 Alnwick   
Almost surprise 3 of the day but not quite, Anlwick will clearly lose away from home at some point but the question is when. Northern ticking along nicely.

Sandal 24 v 50 Scunthorpe
No surprise here, although I thought Sandal were better than their league position was suggesting- maybe not. Never know what you are going to get with Scunthorpe.    

Scarborough 36 v 38 York
Surprise 3 of the day to everyone other than Scarborough members - I wasn't playing down our chances earlier in the week! York were ok but suspect if they had gone behind there wasn't a lot of fight in them. Thank goodness for the rest weekend.

Scarborough were pretty shocking for the first 20 mins yesterday and gave York some early confidence. Would agree with BRB that the game was low quality, would probably also say York the worst team I've seen so far this year so wouldn't take too much from yesterday.

Scarborough are going to have to find a way to wake up and start their games better. The next couple of games are going to be bigger tests with Scunny away and Alnwick at home to come.

It was really telling at the end that York had no confidence in themselves. They took best part of 30 seconds when everyone ready before they took the re start. Their fat lads up front were really blowing.

On a seperate note someone at York should be checking in on their linesman. He's clearly in the midst of a mid life crisis, running touch in his flip flops to show off his girly feet tattoos, coupled with his woolly hat...

Quote from: Range on Nov 08, 2026, 08:37 AMScarborough were pretty shocking for the first 20 mins yesterday and gave York some early confidence. Would agree with BRB that the game was low quality, would probably also say York the worst team I've seen so far this year so wouldn't take too much from yesterday.

Scarborough are going to have to find a way to wake up and start their games better. The next couple of games are going to be bigger tests with Scunny away and Alnwick at home to come.

It was really telling at the end that York had no confidence in themselves. They took best part of 30 seconds when everyone ready before they took the re start. Their fat lads up front were really blowing.

On a seperate note someone at York should be checking in on their linesman. He's clearly in the midst of a mid life crisis, running touch in his flip flops to show off his girly feet tattoos, coupled with his woolly hat...

            

With the greatest of respect BRB it was my friend Mr Shorts who commented on the pre-match lunch. I hope to be at Driffield in two weeks after which I will file a report on the dining experience. I must say that the pre-match at Silver Royd has always been of the highest order.

Quote from: Ribbflagman on Nov 08, 2026, 09:33 AMWith the greatest of respect BRB it was my friend Mr Shorts who commented on the pre-match lunch. I hope to be at Driffield in two weeks after which I will file a report on the dining experience. I must say that the pre-match at Silver Royd has always been of the highest order.

I am extremely sorry old chap ..I've no idea if Shorts was at Silver Royd...
You are both gentlemen of such high standing I mixed you up!

Easy error BRB with two such upstanding gentlemen as us!!!!

I thought I'd treat the old ball and chain to a trip to scargness yesterday to earn a few brownie points. The best grounds in the North of England are always worth a visit. The early parts of the game looked like only the posh boys turned up to play on what was a glorious Scarborough day. Yorvik ran in some early tries which I think even they were surprised by looking at recent results. Yorks small funsized pack were showing their dominance in the scrum, watching previous post match reports, looks to be a common theme. Yorks bank account must be empty paying those props to play full 80 minutes of rugby. Yorks other mercenaries were also pulling strings in the game, Deece Rean was cannoning the ball to Whitby and back , whilst Josh Gruffalo was finding a lot of weak defence. Once fodens fan club finally turned up for the occasion, the tides turned (pun intended), poor discipline saw the York Toffs marched around the pitch by a revived Scarborough attacking line, little too late as York wound the clock down after some last gasp efforts. Now it's time to cash in the brownie points and see if the Mrs wants to pack down

Quote from: backrowbandit on Nov 08, 2026, 10:32 AM

Quote from: Ribbflagman on Nov 08, 2026, 09:33 AMWith the greatest of respect BRB it was my friend Mr Shorts who commented on the pre-match lunch. I hope to be at Driffield in two weeks after which I will file a report on the dining experience. I must say that the pre-match at Silver Royd has always been of the highest order.
[/quote

I am extremely sorry old chap ..I've no idea if Shorts was at Silver Royd...
You are both gentlemen of such high standing I mixed you up!

I'm afraid I wasn't at Silver Royd. I understand the hospitality was excellent though.

Quote from: RuckingRugby on Nov 08, 2026, 10:54 AMI thought I'd treat the old ball and chain to a trip to scargness yesterday to earn a few brownie points. The best grounds in the North of England are always worth a visit. The early parts of the game looked like only the posh boys turned up to play on what was a glorious Scarborough day. Yorvik ran in some early tries which I think even they were surprised by looking at recent results. Yorks small funsized pack were showing their dominance in the scrum, watching previous post match reports, looks to be a common theme. Yorks bank account must be empty paying those props to play full 80 minutes of rugby. Yorks other mercenaries were also pulling strings in the game, Deece Rean was cannoning the ball to Whitby and back , whilst Josh Gruffalo was finding a lot of weak defence. Once fodens fan club finally turned up for the occasion, the tides turned (pun intended), poor discipline saw the York Toffs marched around the pitch by a revived Scarborough attacking line, little too late as York wound the clock down after some last gasp efforts. Now it's time to cash in the brownie points and see if the Mrs wants to pack down

they don't spell the props at York because unlike a couple of seasons ago, York is bereft of quality front row replacements.
How ever when you dominate the opposing front row, you neither need or want to change things.
The trouble comes when you have injuries or a absences
The one aspect of that you will eventually tire and as you lose your dominance the opponents get some decent ball and if they are any good they will narrow the gap on the scoreboard, as in this case, I am told.