York's trip to the seaside was no holiday as Redcar inflicted a punishing 39-3 defeat to leave the Clifton Park side facing a North East Division Two dogfight.

COLLISION COURSE: Pocklington's Simon Lewis (right) peels off a maul as a Hartlepool player (left) prepares to move in to tackle

York's next opponents in a fortnight are Old Crossleyans, who beat bottom team, Keighley, and so deposited York clearly in the relegation quartet.

Redcar possess a large pack with a not very mobile front five but any hopes of York using their backs to concede an off-side penalty which Simon Bullough converted with an excellently judged kick across the wind.

York tried to get control of the game but their ingrained faults of losing possession both in passing and at the tackle gave Redcar the opportunity to gain ground with former Great Britain Rugby League international Garry Schofield masterminding their tactics from fly half.

From a position close to the York line he took play right and then went left to dummy his way over for an unconverted try. Soon afterwards Schofield steered his side forward with an excellent 50 yard kick and only his subsequent poor pass prevented Redcar increasing their lead.

York depended on JP Laycock and Craig Ventress for relieving kicks but some missed touch and enabled Redcar to return to the offensive. Their hard working back row became increasingly influential and Andy Rogers and Andy Tate combined with lock Neil Cook to open up the York defence.

Matt Halifax was off temporarily with a blood injury and was replaced by Simon Thornton in time to see Schofield gather his own short kick ahead, send out a loose pass which was hacked over the line for winger Greg Unthank to touch down. Ian Fawcett converted to put York 12-3 behind.

York fought hard to get back on terms with Bennison prominent and Nigel Durham, substituting on the wing, made a penetrative run in midfield, However, on the stroke of half-time, Schofield took Redcar clear with a kick through which the lively No 8 Graeme Evans collected and Fawcett scored in the corner.

Immediately on the restart, the powerful Redcar pack combined to surge over the York line for a Fawcett converted try. With a lead of 24-3, Redcar eschewed the kicking game even through the wind was in their favour but they too fell into handling errors as their game became too expansive for the conditions. This allowed York to get possession and enjoy brighter moments with Halifax, Ian Davies and Dave Spanton prominent.

However, York seemed to have lost the heart to support their colleagues and several prominent attacks fell apart. Eventually, in the last ten minutes, York crumbled and conceded three tries, all unconverted because of the difficult wind. First, Schofield featured twice in a move with the now rampant Redcar back row and Fawcett scored in the corner. Then Cook burst over from close range before Redcar swarmed again to send Unthank over to conclude a convincing victory.

Undoubtedly, York will be dented by defeat against a side they beat at home earlier in the season. Nevertheless, all is not lost as four of their remaining six league fixtures are at Clifton Park where they are unbeaten in the League.

Also four matches are against relegation contenders so any victories will really count. However, success will only be achieved by improved ball retention and both the fitness and commitment to support colleagues, particularly at the point of breakdown.

Student Matt's finishing school

St John's College, York, student Matt Maddigan was York RI's hero as they stormed to a 46-0 victory over Bramley Phoenix in Thwaites North Division Yorkshire division two at New Lane on Saturday.

Maddigan scored a hat-trick of tries, with others touched down by Ericson Atkins (2), Nick Ward (2) and Matthew Yates, who converted three.

In North East division three,

Carl Paterson scored 21 of his side's points as Selby scored a superb 26-8 victory in their North East division two match at home to second in the table Wheatley Hills.

Paterson, who also plays for York Wasps RL side, got one of Selby's two tries and kicked the rest. Richard Topping on the wing got Selby's other try.

Selby, deciding to play with the strong wind in their favour in the first half, were 20-3 ahead at half-time.

It was harder going in the second half but they dominated play and were in with a chance of two more tries but the opposition killed the ball dead each time.

Selby coach Steve Cruise said it was a "fantastic team performance" built on solid defence.

This result puts Selby in mid-table with 11 points , which includes the two points deducted for playing an unregistered player (Topping) against Old Brods in October. However, Selby have lodged a second appeal against having points docked.

In North East division three, Ripon beat Medicals from Newcastle 44-8 with tries by No 8 Phil Staines, prop forward Pete Fletcher, full back George Whitaker, winger Jason Bell, skipper Chris Marston and a penalty try. Richard Moss kicked four conversions and two penalties.

The Medics replied with an unconverted try through Matt Joll and an Ian McCombe penalty.

In Yorkshire division one, Scarborough beat visitors, Leodiensians 24-7 with tries by Ian Warwick, Andy Holloway, Tom Fish and Marcus Edwards who added two conversions.

Leos were awarded a penalty try for a persistent scrum infringement. John Eagle, the former Headingley winger, adding the conversion.

Wath-on-Dearne beat Northallerton lost 15-5 at Wath on Dearne in Yorkshire division one. Wath had tries by Dave Potts and Dave Bray, Jerry Gomersall adding a conversion and a penalty. Prop Graham Johnson replied with a try for Northallerton.

Driffield enjoyed a 23-12 North division one home victory over Stockton with two tries by full back Jim Iveson and others touched down through Chris McClarron and John Johnson. Kell and Crozier scored tries for Stockton and Dave Turner kicked a conversion.

Malton and Norton and Harrogate did not have games on Saturday.

Crown almost within Pock's grasp

Pocklington recorded a convincing seven try victory by 47-10 at home to Hartlepool TDSOB. And with their nearest rivals Wheatley Hills and Cleckheaton both losing, Pocklington are now in the driving seat to take the North East Championship, needing just two more wins from their remaining five games.

However, they got an early shock as Hartlepool went 10 points up in as many minutes with a penalty and a converted try.

Pocklington were stung into response and piled on the pressure, having two touchdowns disallowed before the half backs worked the blind side and wing Ben Connolly slid over in the corner. Gary Pearce converted with a great kick into the teeth of the strong wind.

Pocklington edged ahead on the half hour after more sustained pressure, No 8 Denzil Styche plunging over for a pushover try.

Pocklington added a classic score in the first minute of the second half and then never looked back. Pearce produced a back of the hand pass to Connolly who sliced through under the post. Pocklington were in control and scrum half Andy Kirby rocketed over from close range.

They added three more touchdowns at regular intervals, centre Rich Stephenson backing up after a kick to the corner to dive in, replacement flanker Andrew Wilson blasting through from 35 yards after being unleashed by his captain Darren Smith and lock Simon Lewis crashing over from a yard to seal a hard working injury come back.

Pearce ended with a 14 point haul from four conversions and two penalties to take him over the 200 points mark for the season so far.

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