FROM THE TOUCHLINE with DAVE CAMPBELL ***** OLD CROSSLEYANS ***** SCARBOROUGH WINS AT YORK ***** VALKRYIES ***** JESS ON YOUTUBE

DAVE CAMPBELL

Next up for Scarborough RUFC at Silver Royd tomorrow is Halifax-based Old Crossleyans. ‘Crocs’ were relegated from North One East at the end of last season and have struggled somewhat this season in Yorkshire One. They have yet to win on the road and I don’t really know what happened when they were walloped 95-27 at Bridlington but they bounced back last Saturday at their Bloomfield Avenue HQ with the 19-16 defeat of fellow strugglers Yarnbury.

MAN OF THE MATCH TOM HARRISON IN ACTION AT YORK LAST WEEK photograph ANDY STANDING

Last Saturday Scarborough travelled to York looking for further progress in Yorkshire One and the big travelling contingent was not disappointed. Three classy tries wide tries following terrific work from the midfield and a further eight points from the boot of Tom Harrison saw the Seasiders lead 23-5 at the break. Unfortunately they lost the services of James Leach with a knee injury just before halftime but fortunately had Kiwi Isaac Faamau on hand to take his place on his debut. And although the home side had a bit of a revival midway through the second half, a beautifully executed flicked pass out the back of Faamau’s hand released Tom Ratcliffe for his second try and a fourth touchdown for a bonus point late in the game. Tomasz Chadwick made a really promising return from injury, Alex Renwick had a great game at centre and scored a spectacular try; I named Tom Harrison who is really on fire at the moment, man of the match.

ISAAC FAAMAU AND SKIPPER TOM RATCLIFFE WHO SCORED TWO TRIES AT YORK

For the visit of Old Crossleyans Coach Lee Douglas makes only one enforced change from last week’s starting fifteen that is Isaac Faamau at No8 who came on for James Leach who suffered a knee injury last week. Ant Coffey has yet to return from a rib injury but hopes to be fit for the game at North Ribblesdale on the 21^st.  Harry Domett is unlikely to play again until sometime next year. Mark Hopper, Ben Martin and Toby Welsby are on the bench. Also in action at Silver Royd are the Vikings and Danesmen who entertain Hullionians and Hull University respectively; all three games kick-off at 2.15pm.

BEN MARTIN RETURNS ON THE BENCH TOMORROW

Last week on social media and in the Scarborough News on-line I let it be known that in my thirty odd years covering Scarborough RUFC for the local paper that I had never seen the first team beat York at Clifton Park. A few of my followers took that to mean that Scarborough had never won at York in that period of time. I wasn’t sure if that was the case so I went back through the records and noted in the RFU results website that apparently the Seasiders beat York 15-13 at Clifton Park on the last day of season 2008-2009. I really don’t remember this game and I can assure you that my old grey cells are still working! However I did celebrate with a wee dram!

JESS GLANVILLE

I went along to Silver Royd on Sunday to catch the Valkryies league game with York RI and although the local girls were beaten 0-12, a good turnout were rewarded with an exciting game deservedly won by the more experienced visiting team. Unfortunately Hayley Evans suffered a nasty collarbone injury which will probably keep her out of action for the rest of the season; Sam Knight was named Player of the Match. The Scarborough faithful won’t see skipper Cathy-Ann Myers’ side back in action at Silver Royd until the 13^th of December as they have been drawn away at Hull in the cup a week on Sunday on the 22^nd and travel to Barnsley for a league game on the 29^th.  Club Photographer Andy Standing has launched the club on YouTube and the first feature on the channel is an interview with Valkryies star Jess Glanville. It makes great viewing and more interviews and reports will follow.