York enjoyed their first away victory of the season 20-9 at West Park Bramhope, and it wasn't until the last quarter of this non-league match that the hosts came to life.

York were starved of possession early on, particularly from the line-outs where the co-ordination between hooker Rob Allen and the line-out jumpers faltered. As a result York struggled to find any continuity. However, their good tackling and solid scrummaging enabled them to launch several counter attacks.

Midway through the first half tight head Andy Smith had to leave the field with an ankle injury. Dave Dorking moved from his rather unusual blind side wing forward role to his more customary place in the front row, with Mick Parsonage coming on as substitute.

It was a scrappy first half with penalties exchanged on a fairly regular basis to West Park 9-6 ahead at the interval.

After the break York improved and began playing with some cohesion. In the line-out Dave Spanton began to win his usual more than fair share of the ball, and the backs strung together a number of promising moves. At the breakdown of one of these West Park's indiscipline in killing the ball in the tackle gave Simon Bullough the opportunity to firstly level the scores and then put York 12-9 ahead with his fourth successful penalty kick.

A rare West Park counter attack was thwarted when Jason Woods intercepted the ball on his own 10m line and then beat three defenders to touch down bringing the score to 17-9. Simon Bullough was wide of the mark with his conversion attempt.

York's superior fitness was now beginning to tell as they continued to drive forward and with West Park continuing to concede penalties it was not long before Bullough had the opportunity to kick his fifth penalty and give York a well deserved victory over their North 2 opponents.

Harrogate and Wharfedale were knocked out of the second round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup on Saturday, while Morley just edged past Barkers Butts, a junior side from Midland One, with an injury time penalty off the last kick of the game, writes Peter Vine.

Harrogate conceded a Jewson's National League One and Tetley's Bitter Cup double defeat in successive weeks at the hands of Preston Grasshoppers when they went down 32-22 on their own ground.

The score was 15-10 in the Grasshoppers' favour at half- time through tries by left winger Chris Glynn, prop Jason Brittin, full back Mike Bailey and fly half Mike Lough, Martin Emmett kicking the goals.

Harrogate replied with tries through centre Andy Caldwell (2) and prop Rob Faulkner, and Mike Duncan succeeded with two conversions and a penalty goal.

Former Harrogate Coach Peter Clegg, who is based in York, was well-pleased with Otley's second string's victory at Whitchurch which underline's the Jewson's National League One unbeaten leaders strength in depth.

Clegg, who masterminded Harrogate's climb from North Division One when league rugby started back in 1987 to rank amongst the exclusive top 30 clubs in the country, was awarded the Jewson's National League Coach of the Month recently.

In line with many senior clubs in the country, however, the Tetley's Bitter Cup ranks behind league rugby in the order of priority these days, as is the case with the Yorkshire Cup which is now attracting second teams of senior clubs.

Wharfedale went down 14-13 at Birmingham/Solihull for whom Jim Quantrill scored three penalties and left winger Ben Shepherd touched down an unconverted try.

Centre Andy Hodgson replied for The Dalesmen with a try, Jonathan Davies converting and adding a penalty goal, Adam Mounsey also kicking a penalty.

Morley scraped home 19-17 winners at Barkers Butts thanks to a penalty in the third minute of injury time by Jamie Grayshon, his third, centre Chris Johnson and Pete Fletcher scoring their tries.

Northallerton went down 9-6 at West Leeds in the NPI Cup second round. West Leeds scored a penalty and a drop goal through fly-half Dave Breakwell, Ed Bulman replying with two penalties for Northallerton who were 6-3 down at half-time.

Concentrating all their resources on success in league rugby, Whitby withdrew from the Competition but played Middlesborough Wasps instead, the Wasps winning 21-12.

Injury-hit York RI were forced to withdraw from The Tetley's Bitter Vase Competition giving Dinnington Old Boys a walk-over, but RI 'A' did manage to beat Stanley Rodillians 43-10, Paul Rimmer scoring a hat-trick of tries.

Last season's Vase National semi-finalists Scarborough beat Hessle 15-7 at Newby with a try from Andy Holloway and a conversion, a penalty and a further try from Wayne Adams.

Home side Wetherby went through to the third round of the Vase when they beat Chester Le Street 25-15. Wetherby's tries were touched down by Richard Jones, Dave Maycock and Wayne Pawson who added two conversions and two penalties.

In club games, Ripon triumphed 18-8 at Acklam whose coach Tom McGrath scored a try and Steve Graham a penalty.

Centre Jim Buckley and No. 8 Carl Ryecroft scored Ripon's tries both of which were converted by Richard Moss who added a penalty.

Redcar withdrew from the NPI Cup and went without a game on Saturday as Thirsk went to Barnard Castle and won 12-10. Simon Coverdale scoring all Castle's points while Thirsk scored tries through Chris Dale and Steve Lumley, Martin Nordell adding a conversion.

Richmondshire went down 18-13 to neighbours Wensleydale who scored a goal, an unconverted try and two penalties to Richmond's try through No 8 Steve Goodchild, Graham Newton converting and adding two penalties.

Selby went down 20-13 at home to Pontefract in a club match.

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