Saturday 23rd March 2002
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIV 2
YORK ACORN 46 KEIGHLEY ALBION 6

Albion visited York Acorn in their last away game of the season. Fielding a much changed side again Albion welcomed back from injury Mark Adams and Neil Jordan.

Albion started the better of the two sides and were 1^st on the attack-pushing Acorn back onto the defensive. Some strong running from Russ Meakin and Ben Farrar failed to break the Acorn line. Acorn then took the game to Albion and were awarded head and ball from a disputed 40/20 kick from John Waldron, but justice seemed to have been done when the Acorn centre knocked on during the first tackle from the scrum.

This gave Albion hope and a good kick down field from Andy Bowness saw the chasing Ed Billings and Chris Atkins tackle the Acorn full back in his own 22 metre area. It was entertaining rugby from both sides but it was not until the 19^th minute that the dead lock was broken. Then Acorn drew first blood when some good midfield play resulted in prop Paul Dodsworth charging over for a try wide out, Jon Hough added the goal kick to give Acorn a 6 points to nil lead on 20 minutes.

Andy Bowness and Mark Adams were trying to get Albion into the attacking mode well supported by Martin Fryers and Neil Jordan, who after putting Albion into a good field position saw the ball go to ground. From the knock on Acorns 2^nd row man Dave Norman scooped up the loose ball to go 20 metres unopposed to score a try by the posts, Jon Hough added the goal to put Acorn in front with the score at Acorn 12 points Albion 0 on 26 minutes.

It was very physical up front but Albion’s forwards led by Ian Spencer, Gareth Greenbank and Russ Meakin matched the Acorn man for man. Andy Bowness`s kicking game was good pushing the Acorn back on to the defensive, and a good set of plays saw Ed Billing stopped just metres short of the Acorn try line but Albion failed to make the pressure count. They were then punished for this when a Lee Frank break sent sub Nick Caldwell over for a try in the corner, the goal attempt was of target but the score was Acorn 16 – Albion 0 on 34 minutes.

Both sides tried hard looking for points but this was to be the half time score in a half where Albion had played some good open rugby, but it was the Acorn who had the points on the scoreboard. Half time Acorn 16 – Albion 0.

At the start of the 2^nd half it was still all to play for, and Albion were first into their stride as from the kick off an Acorn player knocked on in the 22 area giving Albion head and ball, and from the scrum they managed to get the ball wide but the last pass to Ed Billings was a poor one going to ground just behind him. This allowed the Acorn to push Albion back up field and onto the defensive, and a kick on the last tackle was knocked on by an Albion player thus allowing the Acorn another set of 6, on the 3 play John Waldron sent Nick Caldwell in for a try, John Hough added the goal to make the score Acorn 22 points to Albion’s 0 on 46 minutes.

Albion then got themselves back into contention following some good open rugby from Andy Bowness and Martin Fryers and this combination worked again as Andy Bowness`s diagonal kick behind the Acorn defenders saw Martin Fryers react first and won the chase to score a try mid way between the posts and the corner flag, Andy Bowness added the goal to give the score line of Acorn 22 points to Albion’s 6 on 50 minutes.

At this stage although the points tally was in favour of the York side it was hard to tell which team was the bottom of the 2^nd Division. But all this changed in a 14 minute period when Acorn could do nothing wrong, it started when stand off John Waldron wrong footed Albion’s defence and scored a very good try from the mid field break, no goal to add but it was now Acorn 26- Albion 6 on 61 minutes.

They scored again in the 64^th minute when some poor tackling allowed Nick Caldwell to score his 3^rd try of the game, again no goal to add but it was now Acorn 30 to Albion’s 6. Then winger Gary Isles forced his way over for a try in the corner, no goal but they lead had extended to Acorn 34 – Albion 6 on 70 minutes. And as if things could get any worse for Albion at this time they had Mark Adams sent to the sin bin for an indiscretion. A quick tap penalty then saw John Waldron score a try under the posts, Jon Hough added the goal to make it Acorn 40 points to Albion’s 6 on 71 minutes.

Then on 75 minutes sub Adam Endersby went over for a try, Jon Hough again adding the goal kick to make it Acorn 46 points to Albion’s 6. The 5 tries and 2 goals in 14 minutes had shown Albion's lack of fitness as they were taken to the cleaners, but for all this the had competed to the bitter end and some good performances from Russ Meakin, Ben Farrar and Man of the Match Martin Fryers showed the spirit within the team.

For Acorn their Man of the Match was John Waldron who had tormented Albion all afternoon, with 3 try Nick Caldwell running him close in a good entertaining game. Final score Acorn 46 – Albion 6.

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