AFTER back-to-back League defeats, YMCA are grateful to be switching their attention to Cup action tomorrow, when they entertain Ilkley for a Yorkshire Shield second round tie at Laund Hill (2.15).
“We know Ilkley will come at us with all guns blazing, particularly after what happened at the start of the season (YMCA won 31-29 in the opening Yorkshire I game),” said coach Jody Shaw.
“But, to be honest, it’s come at a good time for us, because it relieves the League pressure which has been building on us.
“This is a one-off Cup game, when anything can happen.
“We could have wished for easier opponents, but if you want success in a Cup competition, then at some point you are going to have to face the best teams.
“Ilkley won the Shield a couple of years ago, and they will be looking for a repeat of that success.”
YM have been forced into making several changes from the side which just lost 16-12 at home to Driffield last week, with one or two players having sustained injuries.
Unluckiest man at Laund Hill must be influential flanker Tom Sharrock who faces another lengthy lay-off after picking up a bad ankle injury in the second half against Driffield.
Sharrock had only just got back into first-team match-day fitness after being out of the game for almost 18 months with a broken leg and knee operations, and was starting to make his presence felt in the last couple of games, but is set to miss the next few matches after his ankle suffered from swelling.
Another big player ruled out of the Shield clash is stand-off Damian Clayton (last week’s man-of-the-match) who has a number of niggling knocks, and is therefore rested with Ed Barber taking his place at No10.
Lloyd Bentley is available this week, and comes straight back into the side at centre, while Danny Dyson takes over from Sharrock at wing forward.
The only injury scare last week involved scrum half Simon Wilson – he was brought off as a precaution after feeling tightness in a hamstring – but has been declared fit to resume tomorrow.
YMCA: Johnson, Bullock, Bentley, Ryder, Stead; Barber, Wilson; Ste Dyke, Hill, Wrafter, Stu Dyke, Bell, Dyson, Hodge, Whitehead. Subs: Lumb, Leone-Mazza, Robertson, Tindle.
