York RI opened the new Millennium in great style when gaining revenge over Sheffield Oaks, who had only just beaten them in Yorkshire Two at the beginning of November.
RI's recruitment policy showed signs of bearing fruit and there are more new faces waiting to be registered down at New Lane in the near future.
Former Harrogate winger Ericson Atkins was on the sidelines for RI, but was not needed as they stormed to a 17-0 victory.
RI made a cracking start racing to a 10-0 lead in the first eight minutes before Oaks sorted their defence out.
Matthew Yates had opened the scoring with a penalty in the fourth minute and three minutes later left winger Tim Nash finished off a passing movement that covered the full width of the pitch. Phil Ambler added the goal points.
The RI pack had their counterparts on the back foot for the rest of the half and three minutes into the second half they increased their lead with their coach/skipper, Andrew Morse finishing off a powerful forwards' surge with a try that scrum half Phil Ambler improved.
RI's experienced forwards, despite being without flu victim Steve Fawcett, completely bossed the show up front and provided plenty of possession for their backs to run the ball, with Jon-Paul Wong prominent.
Harrogate also got the new Millennium off to a cracking start in Jewson's National League One as Harrogate came from 10-5 down at half time to beat Rosslyn Park 25-13 at Claro Road.
Andy Maddock scored all Park's first half points converting his own try after opening with a penalty goal.
Leigh Woodhouse hit back with a try for Harrogate, James Tapster and Mark Farrar adding two more, Matt Duncombe kicking a penalty before converting a try by prop forward Rob Faulkener.
While York's original North East Division One opponents, Darlington, were involved in the fifth round of the NPI Cup, Goole were hammering visitors Keighley 37-0 in the same league. Richard Moorhouse, Richard Driffield, Phil Jackson and James Ruhmann (2) scored their tries, Ruhmann kicking three conversions and two penalties for a personal tally of 22 points.
Selby were well beaten 42-19 at home to Cleckheaton in North East Two.
They were playing catch-up throughout and trailed 21-3 at half-time with only a Toby Pemberton penalty to show for their efforts.
The visitors scored three converted tries, the first coming from former Great Britain rugby league star John Bentley.
Selby improved after the break and opened the half with two Pemberton penalties and a converted try by Sam Longthorpe.
But Cleckheaton ran in a further three tries to put the result beyond doubt.
Pocklington made a whirlwind start at home to Old Brodlieians and built up a big lead by the end of the first quarter, but they ended the game hanging on as Brodlieians took over in the later stages, Pocklington finally edging home 29-26.
However, their relief at the sound of the final whistle turned to jubilation when they heard that their nearest rivals, Wheatley Hills and Pontefract, had both lost, strengthening Pocklington's position at the top of North East Division Two,
Gary Pearce got Pocklington underway with a fourth minute penalty and they went on to score three tries in quick succession to lead 22-5 by the 19th minute. Good back play sent wing Ben Connolly steaming over in the corner, open side Neil Cawood reacted quickest to pounce on a loose ball over the line, and blind side Andrew Wilson crashed over from a five yard scrum, with Pearce adding two conversions. Brodlieians only reply came with an interception score from a Pocklington attack.
Brodlieians crossed for their second touchdown but Connolly responded with an 80 yard sprint for a try that Pearce converted.
Pocklington skipper Darren Smith had a touchdown disallowed and Brodlieians escaped with collapsing a scrum on their own line. At the same time Pocklington suffered a further double blow when they lost key forwards Simon Lewis and Jason Nicholson with injuries.
Brodlieians took the initiative and got back into the game with a third try and a long range penalty.
Pocklington were already on the back foot when they allowed a visiting centre to run 40 yards unchallenged to the corner and cut the gap to six points with 10 minutes to go. Brodlieians continued to attack but Pocklington dug deep to hold out and preserve their unbeaten record.
Scarborough did not conceded a single point for the fifth successive home game as they went on a 50-0 romp over Yorkshire One visitors, Thornensians.
Scrum infringements cost Thorne two penalty tries, other Scarborough tries being touched down by Rob Bell (2), Ken Proctor, and Ian Warwick. Kiwi fly half Marcus Edwards kicked four conversions and four penalty goals.
Malton and Norton were also in rampant mood, hammering Bramley Phoenix 60-3 at The Gannock. Andy Whalley and second half substitute Stuart Collins both scoring a hat-trick of tries, Andy Newsome adding six conversions and a penalty. Centre Tim Chapman, and forwards James Goforth and Phil Ryan scored Malton's other tries.
Fly half Andrew Patterson scored a consolation drop goal for the visitors.
Aireborough beat Wetherby 17-11 in Yorkshire Four with tries through Gwyn Jones, Stuart Williams and Martin Hemsley, Wetherby's try being touched down by right winger, Chris Winters.
Nestl Rowntree had a welcome 21-20 win over visitors Garforth after being 20-10 down at half time.
Tries by Jim Baldwin and Ashley Walters did the trick with a conversion by Ivor Jackson and two penalties and a drop goal. Garforth's tries were scored by Richard Sharpe and James Thorpe, Adam Ross converting both tries and adding two penalties.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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