YORK produced an exhilarating performance in going down 21-17 against Powergen North 2 East League leaders Morpeth at Clifton Park.

They outscored the visitors three tries to two and can consider themselves a shade unlucky after putting in their best individual performances of the season, particularly the reshaped back line, who threw off their recent lethargy.

Skipper Pete Curtis and hooker Jon Sharpe were back from injury and made big contributions, while full-back Mike Ford made some telling intrusions from defence.

York made an impressive start with their forwards combining well, but the visitors had pace on both wings and their centre, Nick Harper, came away to kick his side deep into the York 22.

The home side failed to control the lineout and Morpeth swept the ball out to chunky winger Darren Cunningham, who scored in the cormer. Fly-half Toby Flood made an excellent conversion.

Craig Ventress missed the chance to reduce the arrears with a 30-metre penalty in front of the posts but York were not unsettled and Brad Macdonald and Grant Williams were prominent for the Clifton Parkers in the pack.

York levelled when the ball was worked out to Rob Taylor on the left inside the Morpeth 22. He turned the ball inside and from the ensuing maul Williams took the ball and crashed over. Ventress added the conversion.

York had chances to go in front when a Sean Bass tackle killed Morpeth's intention to run out of defence and the ball spilled loose but York could not capitalise, while Morpeth's Dave Wall responded with a weaving run before being nailed inside the York 22.

Right on the interval, Ventress was unfortunate to hit the post with a long range penalty.

The home side fell behind to two Flood penalties straight after half-time and worse followed when Flood opened up the defence and sent Al Rodgers flying down the left. A fine Sam Arkle tackle saved the day but a poor York kick out of defence saw Morpeth return to the attack and score an unconverted pushover try by scrum-half Paul Jackson.

York, 11 points adrift, stuck at their task and Andy Kay fed scrum-half Arkle, who sent Taylor down the wing. He drew the defence and passed to the supporting Kay, who dived over in the corner.

With 20 minutes left, York sensed victory but let themselves down when they killed the ball and Flood restored his side's two-score lead.

The Morpeth kicker then surprisingly missed another chance when York were penalised for contesting the referee's decision.

York mounted a siege of the Morpeth line by retaining possession continuity. Morpeth conceded so many penalties that a penalty try seemed inevitable when York slung the ball out to the right and Taylor appeared from the left to force his way over in the corner.

Time had run out for York but it was an encouraging performance and they owe it to themselves and their supporters to replicate the standard when they meet lesser opponents.

Updated: 09:40 Monday, November 10, 2003