YORK Groves ARLC took a step closer to survival with their first away win of the Pennine League division five season, 34-16 at Park Amateurs 'A'.

The Terriers, embroiled in a relegation scrap after the withdrawal from the league of two teams plunged them into the bottom two, have now leap-frogged Cowling Harlequins by one point and up to third-bottom, though the Harlequins have a game in hand.

Groves opened the scoring when Dean Kilbride broke from his own half and set up Danny Buy. Park Amateurs drew level but Chris Corr scored from a move that was started by man of the match Paul Watson.

Park again levelled but the Terriers then took a hold as Corr put Billy Gillan over in the corner, and Kilbride scored a converted try.

Groves played into the wind in the second half but limited the opposition to one try and crossed themselves through Mark Arnold and Buy, Jason Dunn adding his fifth goal.

Groves' top performers were Arnold, Gary Hill and Paul Marshall.

Updated: 09:30 Tuesday, March 08, 2005