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York 9s 4/5th June 2005
The squad for the two-day event saw a Lancaster side genuinely representative of the district, with players from Atoms', Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC, Lancaster University, University Old Boys and St Martins making up a side that was strong in the backs, but slightly weaker in the forwards. The Lancastrians kicked off against French Elite One (First Division)
side FC Lezignan, a team who convincing beat Lancaster 34-0 in their 2003
York 9s encounter. Despite loosing once again Saturday showed a much improved
Lancaster exerted more pressure with a McVernon leading from the front. A quick play the ball from McVernon saw Boothroyd combine with his university team mate and captain Robinson to set Shaw up for drive. Offloading out of the tackle to Thompson, the Lezignan defence was again stretched but crucially held out. Thompson was forced into touch and from the resulting scrum, Lezignan gained possession and swept downfield themselves to score out wide the first points of the match. The second half saw Lezignan again receive some additional valuable possession from forcing another Lancaster attack into touch, and once again scored against the run of play to register further points. With time running out fast, Lezignan registered the win with a new found respect for their amateur opponents.
Early pressure from the Bulls saw Ikram Butt set up a try for the Asian team, but Lancaster struck back with a try through Gavin Thompson. Only the South Asia Bulls conversion separated the sides as a close fought encounter entertained the crowd with some flowing rugby. The second half was just as tight with trys again being exchanged, this time McVernon going over the whitewash for Lancaster. Again the conversion was missed for Lancaster and the small gap between the teams was widened to 4 points. A try in the last few seconds of the game saw the South Asia Bulls run out unconvincing winners by three trys to two. Two games and two defeats saw Lancaster head into their final game in desperate need for a decisive win and only good luck between them and a last 16 finish. A weak Scotland students team were the opposition and were duly dispatched from the competition by Lancaster registering an 8-0 win sending the Lancastrians into the Fairfax Cup for the third time in three years. Sunday morning had Lancaster first up against Yorkshire League champions and Challenge Cup giant killers Sharlston Rovers. Sharlston, who shot to fame with defeats of professional teams Dewsbury and Oldham in the Challenge Cup in the last two years were clearly in no mood for a Sunday stroll in the park. Some would say the sledging and attempted intimidation before the game even started was not quite within the spirit of the competition, but nevertheless illustrated the seriousness with which the Yorkshire pit village team were taking the competition. The Wakefield side were amongst the favourites for the finals series and for 6 minutes of the first 8 minute half a fantastic Lancaster defence held them to 0-0 before Sharlston took control of the game to send Lancaster crashing out of the Fairfax cup with a comprehensive defeat.
This incident perhaps summarised the Lancaster spirit at the weekend, Lancaster’s representatives did themselves proud, despite an extremely tough draw once again tying Lancaster against professional and top amateur opposition from around the world. Lancaster’s thanks go to team sponsors Walkabout, and to the tournament sponsors, Polar (Ford), Gillette, PC World, Kellogg’s and Steeden. Squad: Rob Shaw, Tim Boothroyd, Tristan Duncan, Bradley Smith, Dave McVernon, Andy Garnet, Mark Squires, Gav Thompson, Ben Robinson, Andrew Raines, Ceredig Jaimison-Ball. York International 9s full results Fairfax Cup Qualifying stages: Fairfax Cup Second round: Quarter-finals: Semi-finals: Final: York City Knights Shield Semi-finals: Final: Steeden Plate:
Gallery
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Teams
from across Europe descended on York for the first leg of the Rugby Grand
Prix at the International York 9s last weekend. Lancaster, making their
third successive appearance at the event, set off along the A65 with hopes
of holding on to their top-16 ranking, something achieved in both of their
previous two visits to the Minster City. 
Gavin
Thompson starred for Lancaster as the ball was thrown about with scant
disregard for the quality of the illustrious French opposition. Within
the first few minutes the intentions of Lancaster were displayed with
a fluent movement of the ball through the hands of Robinson, Smith and
Shaw to release Thompson on an 80 yard movement downfield. Lezignan scrambled
well to halt the Lancaster attack just inches from the line and relieved
Frenchmen saw out the following set with safety first rugby. 
Second up
were South Asia Bulls, a team Lancaster have faced in all three visits
to the York 9s. The Bulls are led by former England rugby league player
and London Broncos star, Ikram Butt, and are made up of the leading players
of Asian origin in the UK. Brought into Lancaster’s group to replace
Cottingham Tigers, the Bulls started the match as favourites having won
all the previous encounters between the clubs. Lancaster, deperate for
points to ensure another top 16 finish and entry in the prestigious Fairfax
cup, started out in buoyant mood with the excellent performance against
Lezignan fresh in the players’ minds. 
The last
game of Lancaster’s weekend saw a daunting fixture in the Shield
competition against 2004 Fairfax Cup winners the West Indies. Lancaster
again battled bravely but the brutal West Indies defence proved impregnable
and a match too far for the tired Lancaster squad. The most memorable
incident was perhaps the ‘hit’ of the tournament, who for the
Lancaster winger Tristan Duncan, was unfortunately on the receiving end
of. Duncan, noted for his stepping, jinxing, individual runs, stepped
right into the middle of a Trinidad and Tobago meat sandwich. The mighty
West Indies props duly dished out the punishment and swotted the diminutive
Lancaster winger to the ground with such ferocity that the crowd grasped
– but could not have failed to have appreciated the bravery of Duncan
who duly got up and played the ball before checking that his face was
still intact. 
