AFTER leading Redcar for 70 minutes, York surrendered victory to the Seasiders in their crucial Powergen North Two East relegation fixture at Green Lane.

It was a cruel blow for the Clifton Park outfit as Bridlington lost to doomed Northern, thereby opening a chink of hope if York had not conceded a try on the fringe of added time.

It was a desperate day for good rugby with a heavy drizzle compounding an already muddy pitch which, in places, resembled a quagmire.

On a different day, York could well have had the legs on their opponents, but the conditions played into Redcar's hands as they have a heavy mauling pack which was well-drilled to deliver on the day and they gradually wore down a possession-starved York squad.

Redcar threatened first through their captain and scrum-half Matt Hemingway, who fed flanker Graeme Evans to put centre Jamie Connolly clean through the centre up to the York 22. Full-back Mike Ford made a good saving tackle but York conceded a penalty which Mark Patterson converted.

From the re-start, Redcar attempted a handling move which went astray. The bounce was kind for York centre Johnan Koekemoer, who sped 30 metres over the Redcar line. Ford could not convert.

Two scores in five minutes suggested an avalanche of mistakes and a high-scoring match. In fact, the longer the match lasted the tougher and more dour it became. It was hand-to-hand fighting and inevitable, infringements occurred which led the referee giving Redcar's Neil Cook and York's captain for the day, Andy Kay, yellow cards within minutes of each other.

By the interval it was clear that York would struggle to contain the Redcar forward power. They continued to be short of possession and their line-out was malfunctioning.

York tried to handle the ball away from the forwards but the conditions made this an even greater hazard. Neither could they develop a kicking game to spread and tire the bulky Redcar pack.

York's defence was robust and Ford made a fabulous catch on his line to return the ball 45 metres to halfway. However, York lost prop Simon Humphries on a yellow for persistent infringement with eight minutes remaining and Redcar's relentless mauling took its toll. With four minutes left flanker Richard Barker was awarded the touchdown which sealed York's fate.

With a lot of assistance from their fellow strugglers, York might still escape relegation as they have a superior points difference to Bridlington, Sandal and Horden who are all three points above York. But the Clifton Parkers need to win matches of which four remain and two are against leaders Hull and Middlesbrough with the latter visiting York next Saturday.

Updated: 10:22 Monday, February 16, 2004