1st XV

W 50-10

League

18-01-2020

Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.

By Charlie Hopper

Scarborough ended a run of six straight defeats as they comfortably beat North One East strugglers Huddersfield YMCA 50-10 at Silver Royd on Saturday.

Simon Smith’s side started the game under increased pressure but a penalty inside their half allowed them to turn the screw and begin to focus on attack. In the thirteenth minute scrum-half Jordi Wakeham used his initiative to collect the ball from the base of the scrum and score the game’s first try. Tom Ratcliffe missed the conversion however to leave the score at 5-0. Wakeham scored his second try of the game minutes later as winger Jonty Holloway evaded the tackles only for him to off load to the scrum-half as he could score under the posts. Ratcliffe made easy work of the conversion for 12-0. Scarborough made the pressure count as fly-half Tom Ratcliffe read the play brilliantly as he won the ball back for his side and off-loaded to Holloway who used his quick pace to race over the line for an unconverted try to stretch his sides lead to 17-0. Simon Smith’s side extended their lead further as Ratcliffe registered his first try of the game. Wakeham chose to take the ball down the blind side, draw the defender in and off-load to the try scorer who managed to run along the touchline and score. Wakeham added the extras to give his side a comfortable 24-0 lead. On the stroke of half-time the North One East strugglers registered their first points of the afternoon. Tom Harrison looked to start a Scarborough attack only for his pass to be intercepted by outside centre Samuel Fletcher and he ran clear to score. The conversion was missed by Hayden Quigley to leave the score at 24-5.

The Silver Royd outfit started the second-half in a dominant fashion forcing handling errors from the visitors. In the 49^th minute winger Jack Anderson scored his first try of the game as the ball was threaded wide and he could collect and weave through the tackles to find his way under the posts. Wakeham once again converting to stretch his sides lead to 31-5. Luke Brown was the first player to receive a yellow card as he made a late tackle on a Huddersfield player. The visitors then looked to respond and after their maul picked up pace in the 60^th minute, Jacob Priestley was on hand to touch down. The conversion sailed wide to reduce the arrears to 31-10.

Wakeham managed to secure his hat-trick in the 76^th minute as he once again picked up from the base of the scrum and crossed the whitewash. He converted his try to stretch the lead to 38-10. Aaron Wilson snatched himself a try at the death as he took the ball from the ruck and bundled his way over for an unconverted try. With seconds to play, Ratcliffe added a second try to his tally as smart work from Holloway and Henry Hocking presented him with the chance to run a try in under the posts. Wakeham converting to round off a near perfect afternoon for Simon Smith’s side who can use this victory to kick start their stalling season.