West Park Leeds 38

YMCA 8

YMCA’s shortcomings were laid bare for all to see by a capable, but far from brilliant West Park Leeds side in their fifth successive Yorkshire II reversal.

YM had actually beaten the title-chasers 16-11 at Laund Hill in early December, and for the first half hour of this return contest there was little between the sides.

Indeed YM were far from out of it at half time when West Park led 14-3, courtesy of three penalties and a try from full-back Simon Towler, John Smith having knocked over YM’s solitary points.

And it would have been closer had Adam Ryder not been caught on a length of the field run by an despairing ankle tap after James Swift had elected to run the ball from almost his own line.

But from the second half re-start West Park were gifted a try after Simon Wilson was adjudged to have held back his opposite number following a kick through, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try despite the offence taking place outside the 22, and with three other players in front of the Leeds man in the chase for the ball.

YM briefly hit back with a well-worked try from winger Chris Beever, but by now the writing was on the wall, and as the home team turned up the pressure, YM began to run around like headless chickens, playing as individuals and without any real notion of teamwork.

The ball was thrown about willy nilly which ultimately led to constant mix-ups and Wests winger Booth picked off one loose ball to sprint to YM’s line unopposed for another converted try.

Line-outs were lost, scrums were going backwards and the kicking out of hand was a shoe-in for the retrieving defence to run the ball back with interest, and outside centre McLure did just that for a try which Towler again converted for a 35-8 lead.

All sense of discipline had now broken down and the final nail in the coffin came when YM were penalised for an off-the-ball incident and Towler nailed another penalty to round off the scoring.

Overall a very disappointing performance with YM lacking consistency, and although there is no lack of effort, much of it is misdirected and seems to be at the whim of individuals.

YMCA: Smith; Beever (Wilkinson 69), Ryder, Shaw, Morton; Wilson, Swift; Sanderson, Dyke (Stu), Dyke (Ste) (Sellars 70), Walker, Lyon, Sharrock, van Niekirk (Hodge 63), Pollock.