PROBABLY the worst first half display of this season cost York RI two Yorkshire Three points as they lost 24-15 to bottom-of-the-table Hemsworth.

An underlying belief that the basement dwellers would pose few problems was soon shattered as RI paid the cost of their assumption.

The visitors had other ideas and in the first 15 minutes had scored three tries, two of which were converted, for a 19-3 lead, RI's points coming from a James Jones penalty.

Hemsworth's big pack were causing the home side all sorts of problems and from a pick and drive from a scrum on the RI 22 metre line they smuggled the ball over the line to extend their lead to 21 points.

RI hit back with a try by Alec Webster to make the half time score 24-8.

Early in the second half, RI's injury jinx struck again when full back Tom Heslop fractured his shoulder and Phil Hawkins came on in his place.

An excellent try by Tim Thomas and converted by Jones reduced the arrears to nine points but for all the pressure exerted in the final quarter, the visitors' defence held firm and RI went down 24-15.

Updated: 10:55 Monday, March 07, 2005