The Clifton Park crowd cheered wildly as York grabbed a 10-3 victory with a converted injury time try in their relegation duel with Horden.

Andy Procter's late try gave York victory, but their supporters' jubilation was doused a few minutes later when they learned that Old Crossleyans pulled off an improbably victory over high-flying Darlington to keep both sides level on 14 points in joint sixth place.

York have to win at Percy Park in three weeks time to secure that sixth spot outright and thereby retain their North One League status.

Whatever prospects there may have been for a spectacle of rugby were ruined when heavy rain set in just before the kick-off which persisted until into the second half.

Both pitch and ball became extremely greasy and, as a result, there were handling errors.

The heavy Horden pack gave York a torrid time and for most of the half York were back-pedalling and relied on the Toby Cockcroft's boot to gain relief.

It was soon evident that, despite his 39 years, Horden's No 8, Gary Tait, would be a constant danger to York with his rampaging runs, one of which sent prop Paul Scott heading for the line.

Shortly afterwards Horden winger Peter Steed embarked on a blind-side run that took him right to the line where he was penalised for not releasing the ball.

York rallied when scrum half Sam Arkle sent Julian Ramsey and Shaun Bass down the left into the Horden 22 where they conceded two penalties in as many minutes .

However, although almost in front of the posts, Nathan Savage was unable to convert their opportunity.

Horden now enjoyed a sustained spell of supremacy which brought out the best in a determined York defence.

On several occasions Horden appeared close to scoring only for the force of York's tackling to knock the ball from their grasp.

York's ability to survive this period was the foundation of their victory.

As half-time approached York broke free when No 8, Ian Davies, put winger Mick Parsonage away down the right but his cross kick went to a Horden hand to be returned to the York 22. Ed Bennison then powerfully tackled his opposing centre, kicking the ball free. His speculative boot ahead was swiftly pursued by Ramsey, who in another couple of yards would be outpaced by Horden full back.

After a scoreless first-half, York turned round wondering whether the penalty misses might prove costly but the second half proved to see York as dominant as Horden were before the break.

The improving conditions enabled York to play a more mobile game with hooker Neil Lineham's pace a big factor. York's line-out work, scrappy in the first quarter, improved so Dave Spanton and Matt Halifax won a pleasing share of the ball.

Sam Arkle employed the much under-used grubber kick to get Parsonage away but he was bunddled into touch.

York now applied the pressure - a rolling maul was thwarted and Lineham and Davies were held.

With 10 minutes to go, Horden got offside and Savage duly obliged with the points.

But the visitors quickly regained parity as York spilled the restart kick and from the scrum fly half Nigel Harrison dropped a goal from 30 metres.

Then Cockcroft tried the drop goal route but to no avail and Arkle had a 30 metre burst.

As a draw seemed an inevitable but probably fair result, Ramsey sent Bass down the left and, as he took the winger's return pass on the Horden line, he lost it in the tackle.

But Savage charged down the Horden clearing kick from the scrum and the ball rebounded into the hands of flanker Andy Proctor.

Proctor dropped over the line for the vital score which Savage converted with a huge kick.

Having notched another home success, York need to register their first away win of the season at Percy Park.

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