Missed chances and injuries cost York RI dearly in the opening Yorkshire Two fixture against Leodensians.
Playing with the wind in the first half RI opened the scoring, Matthew Yates converting a 15th-minute penalty when the bigger Leodensians pack were caught off-side. This lead should have been increased almost instantly but for two dropped passes. Leodensians gradually came back with their strong running centres proving a handful. A stoppage for an injury for RI's Atkins seemed to spur RI on, and on the re-start a flowing move saw Atkins touch down under the post. Yates converted for a 10-0 lead.
It was short lived. A penalty by Dan Eddie followed by a try from Bruce Craven, converted by Eddie levelled the score at half-time.
On the restart, despite losing Fawcett, Baker and Atkins to injuries, RI again took the lead with a Yates' penalty only for an Eddie penalty to tie the scores once more.
The game continued to see-saw until Leodensians' pressure brought a second try for Craven, plus one for Jason Lunden to triumph 25-13.
However, RI should not be dispirited and will feel they lost a game they could have won.
Updated: 11:48 Monday, September 10, 2001
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