The Bees got back to winning ways after four straight defeats and remain fifth in the North One East table.
this was perhaps one of the Wagon Lane side's more prosaic performances of the season as it opened with two shots at goal after penalties were awarded for York infringements. For much of the season the Bees first instinct has been to keep the ball alive as quickly as possible and to keep the opposition defence back pedalling, however, this time, it appears that the side took a moment to draw a collective breath and slot the relatively straightforward penalties, to put the Bees 6 points up before 10 minutes were on the clock.

Bees' kicker, Lance Taylor, admittted afterwards that he was far more nervous than usual when he stepped up to take the first of those shots at the posts, as he had been one of those calling for the kick at goal, not the fast restart. The nerves proved unfounded as both penalties sailed through the uprights.

York came to Wagon Lane with a serious injury list with three or four senior players out with long term injuries, but there seemed little wrong with their play as they met the home side head on with some excellent defence and the occasional flash of excitement as they came back up the hill at the Bees.

However, the Bees were just edging the territory and possession as the half wore on and it was no surprise when Tom Johnson was able to dance through a gap in the defensive line to dot down after 25 minutes. Taylkor's good form with the boot continued as he landed the conversion, stretching the home advantage to 13.

Liam Hessay pegged back three points for York with a penalty on the half hour, with Number 8 Shane Goulding then pulling the visitors even closer as he crashed over from short range following sustained presssure on the Bees line. Then, as spectators begin looking at their watches for half time, the home side were able to pull 10 points clear as Cameron Bainbridge weaved his way to the line up the right hand side of the field. Unfortunately for Bainbridge, his game and probably his season would come to an end around the hour mark as he suffered a ruptured joint in his shoulder.

The sides turned round at 20 points to 10 in favour of the Bees and playing up the slight slope, the Bees forwards gradually began to get a grip of the game. Veteran prop, Ryan Wederell was reveling in the close quarter collisions as his side ground out the hard yards towards the York line. On 51 minutes, Wederell earned his reward, ploughing through a group of York forwards to make the line in the corner in front of the clubhouse.

Wederell was on the charge again in the Bees next foray into the York 22 and in amongst the huffing and puffing there appeared to be a dummy thrown by the big man, which delighted the crowd on that touchline, but didnt fool the York defence as the attack floundered. However, it didnt take long for the Bees to get back over the tryline as Johnson, a player who is rather better known for his ability to throw a dummy than Wederell, slipped between a couple of defenders to claim the bonus point try and send the Bees victorious for the first time in 2019.
By
Nick Patterson