YORK gained revenge on Pontefract by winning 28-25 to clinch a play-off place.

With Old Brodleians losing 25-23 at home to Huddersfield YMCA, the Clifton Parkers are guaranteed at least second spot in Yorkshire One.

Mathematically they have a chance of winning the title as they moved joint top with Bridlington, who surprisingly lost 29-22 at Dinnington.

However, Brid, who have scored far more points than York, would need to lose against North Ribblesdale at Duke's Park while York need to beat Selby at Clifton Park.

The more likely scenario is that Andy Gair's York side will now go into a play-off with Hartlepool Rovers who are second in Durham and Northumberland Division One for the right to be promoted to Powergen North Two East.

The side with the greater number of points scored will have home advantage in the play-off with York having amassed 471 points to Rovers' 478.

York took the field for their penultimate Yorkshire One league match against a Pontefract side that had won the previous encounter at Clifton Park.

Missing captain Pete Curtis, senior prop Dave Dorkin and key play maker Mark Roberts, York had reshuffled the pack and back division with Andy Smith and Rob Taylor moving up from the second team and Gary Cassidy moving into the centre to partner Sean Bass. York hit the home side hard and were on the scoresheet within three minutes after a clear take by Dave Spanton from a York lineout inside the Pontefract 22.

The resulting maul was driven over by the dominant York pack with hooker Rob Allen claiming the touchdown. Ben Quick converted to give York a 7-0 lead.

After ten minutes of changing possession and field positions, York again took control and extended their lead after another lineout.

Possession moved to Quick whose deft chip behind the Pontefract backs was gathered by winger Nick Kay who powered through two tackles to be held up close to the try line. Again the York pack finished the job driving him over the line to score.

York extended their lead to 15-0 with a penalty and it was not until the 32nd minute that Pontefract moved into the York half.

A missed touch clearance out of defence by York led to Pontefract's left winger bursting through the visitors' defence to set up a ruck close to the York line. The Pontefract pack then drove the ball on through repeated close fringe drives to go over for their first try which was unconverted.

Pontefract were quickly under pressure from the restart with York driving the ball deep in to the Pontefract 22. However a penalty awarded at a ruck five metres from the home try line gave possession to the home side who, following a quick tap penalty kick, moved the ball the width of the field to score another unconverted try to trim York's lead.

Three minutes later Pontefract reduced the arrears still further with a penalty, leaving York 15-13 ahead at the interval.

Pontefract, who ended the first half the stronger, continued the second half in the same manner scoring another try to take the lead for the first time.

York had to rally round to regain the initiative and a set-piece play, again from a lineout, saw Sean Bass cut through the Pontefract backs to score under the posts. Quick's conversion regained the lead for York at 22-18.

Four minutes later York had moved back into the Pontefract half, with the home side penalised at a ruck, Quick added a penalty and two further Quick penalties stretched York's lead to 28-18.

Pontefract came back at York in the final few minutes to score a consolation try which was converted. With the final whistle the visitors claimed victory and the play-off place. However, the game proved expensive with injury concerns over a number of players to be clarified before the club prepare for their last match against Selby on April 12.

Shock of the day in Yorkshire One came at Lodge Lane where Dinnington defeated Bridlington.

Brid led 7-3 at half-time but the South Yorkshire side, inspired by two tries from full-back Gareth Peasegood and one from hooker Carl Esberger hit back to inflict only Brid's fourth league defeat of the season.

Old Brodleians blew their promotion chances when they lost at home to Huddersfield YMCA - their first defeat of the year.

Tries from Andy Crossley, Tim Horner, Issi Fa and Simon Whitehead took YMCA to fourth place.

Updated: 10:05 Monday, March 31, 2003