York RUFC's Colts underscored their burgeoning reputation with a 21-15 victory at previously unbeaten Darlington.

The home side cashed in on poor early tackling and kicking to zip into a 12-0 lead inside 20 minutes.

However, York's large pack, featuring Dan Greenwood, Adam Lee and Duncan Rogers, began to dominate and after some impressive ruck play Lee scored wide on the touchline. Atkinson converted to trim the arreas to 12-7 at half-time.

In a pulsating second half, York hammered away at the home line and the Darlington defence eventually cracked when Ben Kenyon and Russell Dovey combined for Matthew Gilligan to score near the posts as York went 14-12 in front.

Darlington regained the lead with a penalty but with five minutes remaining Dovey and Atkinson combined to feed Atkinson to burst through to secure victory with an excellent try and conversion.

York RI RUFC's Under 15s returned from West Park Bramhope with another defeat.

They travelled in hope of gaining revenge for a recent loss to Bramhope but despite their best efforts went down 10-5.

Daniel Hunt and Ben Wheldrake were to the fore for RI, who took an early lead through Dave West's try.

RI created several scoring chances but failed to convert them into points and Bramhope levelled the scores by half-time.

With ten minutes remaining of a fast, open encounter, Wests scored the decisive second try. RI, with Dave Holt and Matthew Howse prominent, laid seige to Bramhope's line but could not force a score.

Team-work and fitness enabled York RUFC Under 15s to overturn a half-time deficit and beat Old Leodieensians 30-14.

Try-scorers for York were Jonny Walters, Eion Elliott, Oliver Kent, Eddie Hick, Darren Rutherford and Greg Bond.

Matthew Turp picked up four tries for the second week running as York RUFC's Under 14s crushed Hessle 57-5.

The powerful No 8 was well supported by Joel Lancaster, Chris Woolley, Matthew Rowson, Steven Greenwood and hooker Tom Bewick, who all scored tries. Simon white kicked the remainder of the points.

York RUFC Under 12s enjoyed a fine 14-0 win over a strong Sandal side. Sandal started better but once York got the initiative they scored tries through Milligan and Harrison, Leigh converting both.

York also won the second team game between the clubs 21-7 thanks to tries by Freddie Watson, Hawking and Milligan, plus conversions by Leigh (2) and Fraser.

York RUFC Under 7s 'B' drew 15-15 with their Sandal counterparts with William Booth (2) and George Toplis scoring York's tries in the first half.

The 'A' team were defeated 25-15 by a bigger mixed Yarnbury U7/8 side. Connor Whitby, Oliver McIntosh and Charlie Elliott scored tries for the York youngsters.

Updated: 11:53 Thursday, November 22, 2001