York vs. Preston Grasshoppers
Preston Grasshoppers start 2022 with a trip across the Pennines to play York RUFC at their Clifton Park ground for the first time, in the reverse fixture from back in September last.
With the pre-Christmas game against league leaders Otley being called off, this will be Hoppers first outing since the demolition of Burnage mid-December. Our hosts this week did manage a game on that disrupted weekend, when they journeyed to Kirkby Lonsdale where they shared the spoils.
The forthcoming game at Clifton Park will be York’s first at home since they also beat Burnage back in mid November. They have lost just once on home soil this season with Alnwick being the victors. Their current mid-table position in mainly due to home wins over Kirkby Lonsdale, Rossendale, Wirral, Burnage and a ‘Walkover’ from the Northwich fixture. With this in mind, Hoppers can expect a sterner test than in their last outing.
After giving a good account of themselves during the first half at Lightfoot Green, York fell away in the second period, with tries from Taylorson, Crow, Squirrell & Taylor adding to Jacob Browne’s first minute effort, giving Hoppers a comprehensive victory.
Our visitors achieved promotion into North Premier by way of topping North East 1 by some considerable margin when rugby ceased back in 2020. After pipping Scarborough to top Yorkshire Division 1 at Level 7 in 2018, our visitors consolidated for a season in North East 1 before gaining promotion to North Premier.
York RUFC are a club on the march up the RFU League structure, after languishing in Yorkshire 1 for many seasons they have suddenly made an upsurge during the last few years, and with that in mind we’ll surely be seeing a lot more of them in future seasons.
The 1869 Club are running a supporters coach (£20pp) to the game, departing from the club car park at 9:30am. There will be the usual stop for lunch en-route, returning approximately 1 hour after the final whistle.
Please add your name to the list on the Noticeboard or alternatively email Les Harrison on leslieharrison951@btinternet.com.
Team News
- Olli TRIPPIER
- Chris TAYLOR (c)
- Pete ALTHAM
- Sam GALE
- Ally MURRAY
- Toby HARRISON
- Rob BRAMHALL
- Matt LAMPREY
- Harrison MOULDING
- Alex WARD
- Tyler SPENCE
- Sam STOTT
- Alex CARSON
- Jordan DORRINGTON
- Jacob BROWNE
- Oga MABAYA
- Dec NORRINGTON
- Ben DORRINGTON
