YORK RUFC beat Ryton 60-3 in their home Powergen Durham and Northumberland League 1 fixture.

It was their most convincing win of the season and puts them on equal points with Durham City and Northern some three points behind leaders Percy Park.

Actually, York are third-placed because they have an adverse 14 points scoring differential with Durham, but the Clifton Park club have a good opportunity to remedy this at Acklam next Saturday.

Ryton looked a rugged, physical outfit and in the early stages caused York a bit of bother. Fly-half Mark Elliott put in testing long kicks, one of which gained a platform in the York 22 where Elliott put the visitors ahead with a well struck penalty.

After 20 minutes York fullback Tom Copeland collected a wayward clearance and sent winger Rob Kama on a mazy run. Centre Sam Arkle linked with flanker Andy Kay, who was stopped just short.

York earned a scrum and No 8 Ian Davies almost balletically twisted his way over the line.

Ryton were still a threat and it took a good Sean Bass tackle to halt a threat from centre Harry Convary.

In the last five minutes of the half York finally took control. The forwards were combining well, with lock Rob Sparrow prominent, and Davies put scrum-half Graham Smith in for a try from which Copeland made an excellent conversion.

From the restart swift handling saw Kama flying down the left wing to score in the corner to give York a 17-3 interval advantage.

The homesters were quickly out of the traps with a 30-yard burst by lock Brad MacDonald before slick passing saw Kama outpace the defence to score in the corner. Another excellent Copeland conversion extended the lead.

Fly-half Mike Ford used the wind to access the Ryton 22 where Copeland added a penalty. Ford repeated the trick and a smart blind-side move saw centre Rob Taylor double round to score in the corner.

The visitors played with heart rather than inspiration and a long pass was spilled at the feet of Kama, who collected to notch his hat-trick and give Copeland an easy conversion.

York hooker Rob Allen dropped the ball only to see it bounce into the hands of flanker Stu Davies, who was left with a clear run to the line. Copeland converted.

The last five minutes was avalanche time when Smith seared clear to slip the ball inside for Rob Taylor's second try. Then Colt winger Mark McDaid sparked a 50 metre move that saw prop Dave Dorkin put Allen in. Copeland added both conversions.

Updated: 10:57 Monday, December 06, 2004