Scarborough RUFC Review of the Season

SEPTEMBER

Simon Smith’s Scarborough started September with two tough away games at Cleckheaton and recently relegated Kendal.

They fell to a 32-29 defeat on the opening day of the season but came away from Cumbria with a hard-fought 26-20 victory. His side then ended the month in the perfect way with a 48-33 victory over Percy Park and a 35-17 away victory at Huddersield Y.M.C.A in damp conditions.

OCTOBER

The good run of form continued into October, with a battling 22-14 home victory against Moortown and a 29-25 win away to West Hartlepool.

The next visitors to Silver Royd were derby rivals York and despite leading 21-3 with 10 minutes to go, the Clifton Park outfit found a way back into the game and snatched a 24-21 victory.

Drew Govier’s side ended the month with a huge 14-13 victory at Durham City and it sent them to the top of the North One East table.

NOVEMBER

November turned out to be a tough month for Scarborough as they slipped to three defeats out of the four games played.

They bowed out the Yorkshire Shield following a 32-10 defeat against Malton and Norton, but responded in the best possible fashion with a commanding 36-13 victory over Driffield.

The game was marred by the loss of Aussie prop Benny Blackall mid-way through the first-half.

As the injury list continued to grow, they were beaten 15-9 at Morley and 21-12 at home to Pocklington.

DECEMBER

As the team headed towards the Christmas break, the run of defeats stretched to four in December.

They suffered a disappointing 31-24 defeat at rivals Malton and Norton and then were well-beaten 47-21 by Bradford and Bingley at Silver Royd.

JANUARY

After a much-needed break and the start of a new year, the poor run of form continued as they slipped to a 27-24 defeat at home to Kendal and then a 26-14 loss at Percy Park left Smith’s side without a win in six games.

The torrid run of defeats was brought to an abrupt end as a commanding 50-10 victory over rock bottom Huddersfield Y.M.C.A stopped the slide down the league table.

FEBRUARY

With the run of defeats behind them, a tough February trip to Moortown was next up for Smith’s charges and they fell to a battling 35-24 defeat.

Govier rallied his side and they responded with a confident 36-15 victory against relegation threatened West Hartlepool.

The busy month continued as Clifton Park hosted another derby day that saw the high-flying league leaders York run out 36-14 winners despite a much-improved performance from the visitors.

With relegation a real possibility, a season defining 21-12 victory over Durham City helped push Scarborough clear of the relegation zone.

MARCH

March proved to be a strange month as the club slipped to a disappointing 43-7 defeat at Driffield and a 20-17 loss against Morley to leave them only a few points ahead of the third relegation spot.

Following the weekend, the season was put on halt due to coronavirus and later ended a few weeks later.

The RFU then decided on the final league standings with rivals York gaining promotion to the Northern Premier and Scarborough finishing eighth.

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