York Rugby Union Club's 17-14 home defeat by Sandal was a real setback to their hopes in North Division 2 East.

They continued to suffer injury problems, with skipper Pete Curtis and Kiwi hooker John Sharpe dropping out in midweek. Nevertheless the technical standard of York's play was inadequate to withstand a lively Sandal side whose forwards played with determination to give their backs chances to show their paces.

The opening exchanges saw Sandal's relatively small pack bustling York around, with aggressive close-quarter play.

York were pressured into conceding turnovers and relied on Ben Quick's boot for relief. Sandal flanker Tim Knapp broke clear and only good cover tackles by Mike Ford and James Arkle stemmed the danger.

After twenty minutes York seemed to have weathered the storm and tried to bring wingman Rob Kama into the game and he was only thwarted by a couple of ankle-taps.

They began to recycle the ball well and a fourth phase move looked promising down Kama's wing, but centre Sean Bass's final transfer was wayward.

That was bad enough, but Sandal's livewire fly-half Jake Havebond collected to sprint some 60 metres to the York posts. Fullback Mike Hardcastle converted and York were 7-0 down.

Quick had a couple of chances to reduce the arrears when Sandal went off-side, but a strong cross-wind took his kicks off target.

York were doing well in the line-out, but their running lacked momentum, which was not helped by poor passing.

Steady rain had set in, but Sandal were not unsettled and both wingers were only prevented from scoring by timely cover tackles from Kama.

The Clifton Parkers looked likely to survive to half-time without further setbacks, but the snake-like Havebond mesmerised York's defence and strolled in under the posts without a hand laid on him. Hardcastle converted to make it 14-0.

York put Grant Williams on at flanker for Nathan Savage, but Lovebond continued to make inroads. After ten minutes Dave Dorking came on at prop and Sam Arkle in the centre.

York were getting more ball and a long pass sent Kama away to elude cover in the left corner and touch down under the posts for Quick to convert.

Sandal took a tough blow when Havebond went off with a twisted knee. York were enjoying more territory and only poor final transfers impeded further progress.

With ten minutes left Kama was nearly over in the corner. York regained possession to develop a rolling maul from which Sam Arkle burst away to touch down and Quick's conversion levelled the scores.

Sandal were soon back in front when Dorking went off-side and the cool Hardcastle slotted the goal. Quick had a chance to equalise, but pushed a relatively easy kick wide.

In the final minutes York might have taken the lead, but their line-out composure deserted them and, without possession, they conceded penalties which drove them back.

It was a disappointing day for York and they will need to revisit selection and brush up on basic skills as they face a tough match next Saturday at Westow, with league leaders Morpeth visiting Clifton Park in a fortnight.

Updated: 10:04 Monday, October 27, 2003