Scarborough RUFC gunning for victory at York

This Saturday Scarborough RUFC are looking to avenge their last-gasp home defeat to York earlier this season with a win at Clifton Park.

York were the visitors to Silver Royd on September 29 last year in the corresponding game and led 17-0 at half-time following a lacklustre Scarborough performance; however a storming second half saw the Seasiders score a couple of tries through Corey Dennis and skipper Tom Ratcliffe then equalise with a penalty try deep in injury-time to much jubilation around the ground.

However Lee Douglas’ charges lost concentration, made a mess of the restart and a somewhat lucky bounce gave York centre Jon Dawes his second try of the match which was converted for a 24-17 win with the last kick of the game.

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The stunned disbelief after so much effort to get back into the game was tangible and not for the first time this season the Seasiders lost concentration when they thought the job was done.

Scarborough kicked off the New Year at Silver Royd last week with a 35-27 victory over high-flying Yarnbury, with both sides scoring and conceding five tries.

So while they continue to run up big point tallies, the Seasiders are conceding generously at the other end. Tom Harrison’s success with the boot was in the end the difference between the teams.

The Minstermen made a solid start to the season losing only two games in the first two months but have slipped since then losing six games in the last two months.

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In common with Scarborough they were knocked out of the Yorkshire Shield just before Christmas losing 24-17 at Yorkshire Two leaders Bradford Salem. Last Saturday they needed to convert a late try to win at struggling Pontefract but the kick was missed and they went down 27-26.

Second row Nick Ingham was injured in last week’s game and is replaced on Saturday by Matty Oxtoby who plays at blind-side with Matthew Else moving into the second row and Eamon Chapman at number eight.

The back division is as last week with Martin Robinson retaining the scrum-half position and young Jordi Wakeham having a run out in the Vikings as is Tomasz Chadwick, who returns from injury.

I have been covering Scarborough for more than three decades and I can’t remember winning a game at York; by the law of averages it must be Scarborough’s turn soon.

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Finally, Kiwi flyer Harry Domett, who first joined the club in 2010, returned to first-team action last Saturday following suspension and celebrated with a couple of cracking tries.

The proudest person in the ground was undoubtedly his mum Kath who is visiting from New Zealand and it was a privilege to meet both charming mother and her son after the game.

Her last ‘appointment’ before returning home is to cheer the team on against York; perhaps her visit will coincide with a long awaited victory at Clifton Park. I certainly hope so.