York 17 Lincoln 15

YORK Rugby Union Club first team had to defend doggedly at the end to beat visitors Lincoln 17-15 and score their first victory since November.

Neither side was able to gain the upper hand long enough to dominate and the result was very much in doubt up to the final seconds.

The vagaries of place kicking came home to roost for York's normally consistent kicker Nathan Savage. He usually kicks an early penalty but this time, after three minutes, he sliced one from 18 yards out and straight in front of the posts.

York's new signing, Steve Brice, a student at the College of Law, peeled off the tail of a lineout and charged round the front to race over, taking two would-be tacklers with him, to score a fine debut try tight to the corner flag.

York's other debut signing, ex-Wakefield fly half and Law College student Mark Roberts, gave the York faithful ample sight of his quality half-back play.

Strong-running Lincoln full back Jamie Slack fed into the visitors's line and created the overlap with a delightful dummy but chose to go himself and scored a fine try under York's posts. He converted his own try.

York were again guilty of wasting valuable possession by kicking the ball downfield, but the tackling of Brice was devastating in power and frequency, for the Leicester Neil Back lookalike was having a terrific debut match.

His pressure on the Lincoln fly half created several penalty kicks for the Clifton Park side.

Savage, wearing a huge supporting bandage to protect the broken nose he suffered at training during the week, was out of touch with his kicking.

York regained the lead when Brice picked up from the base of a York scrum and took three Lincoln players over with him to score again next to the corner flag.

Savage got the kick right this time, converting with a superb kick from the touchline.

Lincoln hit back straight away and Slack slotted a fine kick when they were awarded a penalty for York going 'over the top'.

Close to half-time Slack nearly put the visitors back in front when a towering penalty, across the wind, hit high up on the upright before bouncing back into play for the excellent Roberts to clear York's line.

York started the second half well. Russ Allerton tackled his man, then robbed the Lincoln support player before charging the 35 yards to the line to score a fine try.

Savage narrowly missing the corner flag with a very difficult conversion attempt.

Lincoln's kicker missed a penalty 18 yards out and in front of the posts.

Half-way through the second half Lincoln scored the best try of the match when their hard-running threequarters put every attacking tactic at their disposal into one single move to then send wingman Rob Townsend in for a terrific try.

The last quarter of the second half saw the game deteriorate in standard but this was probably due to periods of slanting rain, sleet and finally snow.

York used the dying parts of this game to bring on Richard Stevenson and there was a huge cheer when Ian Davies pulled on a York shirt for the first time in nigh on 12 months when he replaced Nathan Savage.

Davies promptly announced his return to combat with a thundering tackle within seconds.

It was a fine match against a team top of their league - the equivalent of North East Division One. Lincoln have lost only three games all season and look to be a fine young team.

York, much under strength with three first choice players injured or unavailable, were more than satisfied with the debuts of Roberts and Brice.

A final touch was provided by York RI's ex-captain and utility threequarters Jon-Paul Wong volunteering to turn out as a guest for York and he did so with a rare panache.

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