WINGER Rob Kama scored a brilliant try in either half as York Rugby Union Club claimed their first promotion in nine years as they beat Hartlepool Rovers in the Yorkshire/Northumberland & Durham division one play-off.
The 29-15 victory at Clifton Park saw the club rejoin the Northern Leagues after two years in Yorkshire One.
They had finished level on points with Bridlington at the top of the table and now join Brid and Northumberland & Durham champions Northern in North Two East.
Kama raced 50 metres for the first try and beat four men to claim his second, while other touchdowns came from Jeremy Clutton and Mark Roberts with Ben Quick kicking one penalty and three conversions to complete the scoring.
The match attracted the biggest crowd to Clifton Park for many years with Rovers backed by over 100 supporters.
But their team could not match York on the day and the Clifton Parkers were full value for thgeir victory.
"This match was the accumulation of three years of planning, work, development and dedication by York RFC to rejoin the North Regional leagues," said head coach Andy gair.
The result was a great triumph for Gair, who only joined the Clifton Park set-up as head coach in July 1990.
Harrogate-based Gair has proved a man with the Midas touch, having previously won promotions with Newcastle team Novocastrians in successive seasons and with Wallsend in 1999.
Updated: 11:53 Monday, April 28, 2003
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