Halifax Report

York RI travelled to Halifax on Saturday, as the only game in Yorkshire 4 Premier this weekend. With Burley and Bramley Phoenix picking up wins last weekend, it was important for RI to do so as well and keep pressure on their promotion rivals.

Halifax kicked off and straight away RI showed their intentions, looking to move the ball and worked their way up field. Some early pressure led to a penalty, which was converted by scrum half Baptiste Briu for an early 3-0 lead. More good work gave further field position and with the scrum once again dominant, the visiting pack scored a pushover try, with number 8 Lewis Starbuck getting the score to extend the lead to 8-0.

It was RI that continued to control the game for the remainder of the half. Halifax did get a couple of attacking opportunities within the RI half, looking to use a well organised catch and drive from lineouts, but the visiting defence was up to the challenge. Before the end of the half, further points were added by RI, with kickable penalty opportunities taken, which pushed the score out to 14-0 at the break.

The message at half time, was to look to press the advantage and target a try bonus point. RI again controlled the early part of the second half and after constant pressure the next try arrived. Some organised work from the forwards drew the defence in, allowing space for a break in midfield from centre Rich Tafa, who was able to offload out of the last tackle from Briu to score under the posts and convert his own try fro a 21-0 lead.

The home side then upped their defensive efforts and made the going tough for RI, however the visitors upped their attacking game and played with more pace, which ultimately allowed space in midfield for fly half Tim Lewis to make a clean break and was then able to round the fullback and dot down, converted by Briu to go 28-0 ahead. With a bonus point now in sight, renewed energy saw Halifax under further pressure, and with some good work from Briu, Starbuck and Ben Hartop down the short side, Tafa was on hand to go over unchallenged, with another conversion from Briu taking the score out to 35-0.

With the home side determined to get a score on the board before the end of the game, they were able to get a sustained period of time in the RI half, but excellent defence kept the home side out and turned them over on a number of occasions. This continued until the final whistle, with no further score for either side.

The win puts RI back level on points with Burley in 2nd place, and just 2 behind leaders Bramley Phoenix, with just 3 games remaining. Next weekend sees the return game away at Leeds Modernians.