It was Huddersfield-born Prime Minister Harold Wilson who coined the phrase ‘a week is a long time in politics’ – it also can be in rugby.
With only minimal changes to the side that lost so disastrously at National III North bottom-of-the-table outfit Burnage last week, YMCA defeated Hull 27-10 with their side brimming with enthusiasm and commitment.
It didn’t start particularly well as from the outset the visitors controlled possession and denied YMCA any meaningful opportunity to show what they could do.
It came as no surprise when YMCA conceded a penalty that the visitors decided to run the ball and created enough space for Harrison to get over the line.
Stand off Josh Bragman added the extra points on offer and put the visitors on the front foot.
At that point the light appeared to come on, and from the restart YMCA took the game to the opposition with a series of strong drives by the forwards.
This time there were no mistakes, ball retention was good, concentration levels were high and the desire to perform was evident.
Having quickly worked through the phases in the forwards it was left to the Simon Wilson and Adam Ryder combination to get the scoreboard ticking for the home outfit.
Wilson took good ball at the back of a ruck and evaded a would be tackler, giving himself more time and Ryder the space he needed to take the pass and build up a head of steam, which made him virtually unstoppable as he forced his way over the line for a good try.
Wilson added the conversion and the sides were level.
YMCA continued to dominate and the forwards, ably led by the magnificent James Bell to a man were outstanding, making good ground in possession, protecting the ball at the breakdown and causing Hull problems in the tight.
Lineouts, so often a source of concern were being won with a combination of jumpers all performing well.
Gone was the intricate and confusing to-ing and fro-ing to be replaced by straightforward considered options which whilst not visually distracting were nonetheless highly effective.
The YM’s continued pressure paid off and Wilson added another three points courtesy of a penalty when Hull were caught lurking offside at the ruck.
To an unknowing bystander the YM would have appeared the better placed of the two sides in respect of the current league standings, and the reward for upping their performance came in the form of a Gavin Stead try after good work by Wilson, Ledgard and Ryder drew the defence and Stead blasted over to finish the move.
Wilson was on target once again and the score moved on to 17-7.
A further Wilson penalty for YMCA completed the scoring in the first half.
The second half started with a renewed effort from Hull and although they looked useful they couldn’t breach the uncompromising YMCA defence.
After 12 minutes of pressure all they came away with was three points through Bragman after YMCA were pulled up for not releasing the man in the tackle.
The game was a bit more even as the visitors managed to retain some possession and probe the home defence.
However, they held firm and the home side then turned the tables with a series of strong scrums and an excellent combined effort in the forwards to regain YMCA momentum and keep the visitors on the back foot.
Good defence on the part of both sides managed to keep the game scoreless until YMCA produced a superb scrum.
Bell picked up the ball at No8 and drove up the blind side, forcing the back row cover to halt in their tracks in an effort to stop him.
He then managed to feed Wilson, who once again created enough space for Ryder to have a tilt at the remaining defence.
The big centre showed one would-be tackler a classic hand-off before rounding the last of the cover to get a score out wide in the right corner. Wilson put over a peach of a conversion to bring the score to 27-10.
YMCA: Fletcher, Pooloogadoo, Stead, Ryder, Wrafter (Louis) Ledgard, Wilson, Slater, Wrafter (Josh), Moore, Housley, Edwards, Starbuck, Hodge, Bell. Interchange: Wood, Dyke, Robertson
In National II North Huddersfield were beaten 19-13 at Sale. Full report in tomorrow’s Examiner.
