YORK strengthened their grip on Powergen Durham and Northumberland Division One by beating Hartlepool TDSOB 17-3 at Clifton Park.

In, fact they occupy the spot outright by virtue of fourth-placed Durham City beating Northern who held the third spot. However, the Clifton Parkers have both sides to play in the next month so there is still a lot to play for.

For certain York will have to improve considerably on Saturday's performance to maintain touch with the promotion spots.

By common consent, it was the worst match seen at Clifton Park for some seasons. The visitors were content to slug it out up front whereas York had higher and wider ambitions but, for the most part, they were totally incapable of realising them.

Their propensity for misalignment and poor passing was only exceeded by their ability to kick good ball away.

In fairnesss to York, they have never been at full strength since early December but they will need to restore their rhythm and control before Northern visit.

The opening exchanges presaged an exciting game as centre Rob Taylor broke through well into the Old Boys 22 but the final pass went astray. Soon scrum half Graham Smith probed into the 'Pools 22 and passed inside to centre Nick Ventress who powered his way over. Tom Copeland could not convert.

York winger Sam Arkle saw plenty of action and was tackled just short of the line. He then had to make a saving tackle as his opposite winger, Jim Cole, threatened to break away. York recognised the developing forward nature of the match and made an early substitution to utillise Ian Davies' bulk.

Hartlepool narrowed the deficit with a penalty as York drifted offside.

York suffered a blow when Taylor had to leave the field with a damaged shoulder which may well end his season.

The match became disjointed and an upset was looking a possibility when swift handling saw York move rapidly down the right where Copeland jinked inside. Support was to hand and finally Arkle crossed near the posts Copeland converted to give York a 12-3 interval lead.

The second peroiod degenerated to bad tempered aggression with a referee reluctant to impose adequate discipline. After 30 minutes, York secured their victory when Ian Davies barged into space for Smith, York's only beacon, to carve though the defence for an unconverted try. York left with the consolation that they had played poorly but won.

Updated: 11:05 Monday, February 07, 2005