YORK RI's first visit to West Leeds for some years ended in stalemate as both sides battled hard for a 6-6 draw.

West Leeds took the early initiative with strong running centre Carl Dyson making in-roads into RI territory.

RI weathered the storm and with some good open rugby began to pressurise the West Leeds line. They opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Stuart Watson kicked the first of his two penalties. With Barley prompting his forwards and wing forwards Smith and Casey running strongly it seemed only a matter of time before RI would score, but West Leeds managed to hold out and just before half time drew level when centre Alan Evans kicked a penalty.

Although only 3-3 at half time both sides had attempted to play open rugby and only good defence had kept tries off the scoreboard.

RI had a much better second half and continually probed the West Leeds defence, with Nick Humphries and Nick Ward being brought down just short of the line.

But after twenty minutes they had only another Watson penalty to show for their efforts. It looked as if this might be enough, but with five minutes to go Evans levelled the scores again with his second penalty.

Updated: 12:12 Monday, November 12, 2001