YORK progressed to the second round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup with a fairly comprehensive 36-5 defeat of Scarborough at Clifton Park.

Victory was some measure of recompense for York as Scarborough had last season left York behind in Yorkshire One as the Seasiders gained promotion to North East Two.

Scarborough have struggled this season with a mass of injuries and York put them under pressure right from the start.

Back rower Ian Davies had a couple of rampaging bursts and Sam Arkle was nearly through in the centre before fly-half Mark Roberts made a tidy 30 metre kick to the Scarborough line from a penalty. From the ensuing line out, Roberts made a sharp break and, when held, York recycled the ball to Arkle who sped over for a score which Mike Ford converted.

York were soon back on attack and their forwards got a good shove going to enable centre Gary Cassidy to break free and right winger Simon Cavey was almost in for a try.

Scarborough, who had been struggling for possession, suffered further woe when they lost flanker Hoggard and fly half Smith in what was to prove an injury-ridden match.

Before they could regroup, York left winger Rob Karma received the ball on the halfway line and jinked round his marker, outpaced the cover, dummied to kick past the full-back, whom he left for dead, to give Ford an easy conversion.

Sean Bass came on for York as Arkle departed with a hip injury but Davies and Cassidy continued to create problems although Scarborough now had the services at sub fly-half of Kiwi Marcus Edwards, whose imagination and mercurial passing skills gave Scarborough new momentum.

York, however, increased their lead as Cassidy seared through the centre, and after several assays at their opponents' line, Roberts dummied through to score an unconverted try.

Right on the half-time whistle, a long Edwards pass put Seasiders' winger Tom Atkinson away but Cassidy made a try-saving tackle.

York made a sluggish start to the second half and prop Andy Downes broke clear and gave winger Carl Holdsworth a scoring opportunity. The Scarborough forwards were becoming a more dominant force with No 8 Wayne Adams to the fore.

York pair Andy Kay and Stuart Davies came on for Grant Williams and Ian Davies and Scarborough's Edwards went off with a knee injury that has been hampering his start to the season midway through the half.

York were enjoying more possession but their only reward was a Ford penalty for offside.

As injury time loomed, the game sprang to life as York mounted several attacks on the Scarborough line and, finally, Stu Davies burst over from close range for a Ford converted try. On the resumption, Roberts put through a deftly weighted short kick which Cassidy collected at speed and Cavey was on hand to shoot clear to give Ford another conversion.

Right on the whistle hooker Jim Joude forced his way over the line to give Scarborough a merited consolation try but York will take satisfaction from a successful unbeaten start to the season plus the knowledge that they were capable of further improvement.

Updated: 12:22 Monday, September 23, 2002