WINGER Andrew Johnson scored four tries in Bridlington's 50-30 Yorkshire Cup first round defeat of York at Dukes Park.

But the margin of victory flattered the home side as for large chunks of the game improved York took the match to their Thwaites Division One One hosts.

York made a dream start when Nathan Savage slotted home a 40-yard penalty after only 25 seconds.

However, Bridlington's huge pack were soon making thenmselves felt against York's much lighter eight and their pressure prised open the York defence for Johnson to squeeze in the corner for a try.

Johnson was a constant threat and throughbred tackling by Rob Liddle was needed to stop him in his tracks.

After Savage missed a penalty kick from halfway after 10 minutes, Bridlington hit back with a huge touchline clearance gaining good ground. Bridlington's giant Yorkshire lock Karl Cragg won the line-out and fed David Robinson, who crashed over for a try which Duncan Hughes converted from the touchline.

Five minutes later the versatile Gary Cassidy, playing at fly half, raced a way to score after a superb break by Steph Gibbs from just inside York's half. Savage converted.

It was at this point that Brid's power scrum took control and three strikes against the head and holes around the base of the scrum gave York plenty of problems.,

But York were well in the game and a joint tackle by Russ Allerton and Sean Bass saw Jason Tinsley leave the fray with a damaged shoulder. The same two York players made good breaks that only failed at the last pass and as the pressure mounted Bridlington conceded a penalty which Savage converted from 45 yards to give York the lead.

Brid suffered another blow when scrum half Robinson went off with a pulled groin, but soon afterwards York suffered an injury when Jeremy Clutton went off and was replaced by Neil Lineham.

For 20 minutes York were on top and earned their reward when Allerton carved his way through hesitant Brid cover and popped the ball out to Lineham, who scampered home from 35 yards. Savage added the kick to put York 20-12 up.

But just before the interval Johnson scored his second try after Brid created a two-man overlap.

Bridlington changed tactics after the break, keeping the ball among the forwards and battering the York defence.

The strategy soon paid off as Paul Chapman scored and Hughes tagged on the extra points. Although Bass, Allerton and Gibbs threatened the home line, the last pass continued to let York down.

Savage cut Brid's lead to one point by thumping over a 35-yard angled penalty, but after Allerton stopped a certain Brid try with a crunching tackle, New Zealander Jason Bright outpaced the York defence to cross in the corner. Hughes added the conversion with an excellent kick.

That score heralded a Brid period of control in which Johnson completed his hat-trick, Hughes adding the conversion.

With time ticking away, York went close as Lineham and Tom Copeland were both held inches from the line. Four penalties to York in the space of two minutes were all run, but came to nothing against the home side's defensive wall.

Johnson rubbed salt into York's wounds with his fourth try, again improved by Hughes.

York kept pegging away and had Brid on the backfoot when the home side cleared from a lineout and a cruel bounce took the ball away from Savage and Mark Jackson gathered the ball to cross for Brid's final score.

Deep into injury time Pete Curtis took possession for York, fed the outstanding Cassidy, who sent in Rob Liddle for a try which typified a great game of fast flowing rugby. Savage took his personal tally to 15 with the conversion.

York played some of their best rugby of the season and when they get their big second row forwards back in action could yet return to winning ways in the latter part of the season.

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