VICTORY is a fact - the manner of victory is a matter for discussion.

And there will be much talk this week at York RUFC after their 19-14 victory over Hartlepool Technical Day School Old Boys.

The win maintained them at the head of Powergen Northumberland and Durham Division One but it was their least convincing performance of the season.

For most of the match York looked like losing in an error-strewn display when they incurred the referee's wrath on a penalty count of 34-6 and two sin bin awards.

Tech, underperforming in recent matches, set themselves up for this fixture in heavy midweek training sessions. Their forwards had size and commitment with No 8 Steve Stockdale always proving a handful. They started on fire and an accurate cross kick from scrum half Barry Corbett put right winger Jon Cole in for an early unconverted try.

York started several promising moves but their finishing was weak and it took 20 minutes for them to get on terms when centre Sean Bass led an attack down the left. The ball was reversed out right where Tom Copeland at full back came in at the wing position to step inside and score. Nick Ventress's conversion was just wide.

This demonstrated that York had the measure of their opponents in the running game but it was a tough encounter up front. York shed this advantage when Adie Martin was yellow carded for punching and, within three minutes, Rob Allen suffered a similar fate for stamping.

York survived to half time but didn't help their cause by kicking possession to the opposition.

York then conceded penalties after half-time for offside and dropping the scrum. Both were converted by Tech full back James Massheder to put his side 11-5 ahead.

York gradually began to play with more urgency and their handling clicked.

Rob Liddle made a forward surge and the ball passed through several pairs of hands before centre Nick Ventress strode in under the posts to convert his own try.

York's one point lead was short lived as from the kick-off, they went offside in front of their posts and Massheder restored the hosts' lead.

The Clifton Parkers stepped up the pace and their pack started to dominate the tight exchanges. Winger Liddle seemed to have regained the lead when he charged over under the posts but the referee adjudged that the ball had not been properly grounded. York lost ground when they were penalised for feeding the scrum - a souvenir event in modern rugby.

However, with eight minutes of normal time left, they went into the lead when a sustained handling move saw Liddle cross for Nick Ventress to convert. A hectic final few minutes was compounded when the referee awarded 13 minutes of stoppage time but York held out.

Updated: 09:11 Tuesday, October 12, 2004