YORK RUFC ran Yorkshire One champions Hull close at Clifton Park on Saturday before going down 26-21.

Hull's victory guaranteed them the championship but York will feel there is little difference between the two teams after losing 13-10 at Hull earlier in the season.

The home defeat was down to poor York defending rather than Hull's creativity.

Hull came out of the blocks quicker and a try and penalty gave them an 8-0 lead after finding gaps in the home defence.

But York hit back with a well-worked try from a five-metre scrum which enabled Andy Kay to batter his way.

However, another penalty gave Hull an 11-8 lead and York were always playing catch-up after that.

Because of work commitments, Lee Denham was only able to come on at half-time and his experience added a great deal to York's performance.

James Arkle reduced the arrears with a well taken try but just as York looked as though they were in the ascendancy, Hull hit back with a breakaway try.

York stand-off Mark Roberts, playing against his old club, hoisted a superb up and under into the visitors' 22 metre area but all the York chasers put pressure on the ball instead of moving up in a line and Hull were able to to counter-attack leaving Rob Kama exposed on his wing and unable to deal with the three-to-one overlap as Hull scored.

But York - and Kama - were not finished as he produced a superb chip over four Hull defenders and ran on, collected a good bounce of the ball and raced over the line.

But despite their three well constructed tries, York, whose other points came from the boot of Mike Ford, were left regretting defensive mistakes which cost them the chance of a famous victory.

York need to win their final two games of the season against North Ribblesdale and Yarnbury to guarantee their Yorkshire One statuson.

Updated: 11:29 Monday, April 08, 2002