York RUFC back to winning ways with bonus point victory

York headed back to Clifton Park afteer successive defeats in the North Premier but were convincing winners against third-from-bottom Burnage.

The visitors had the wind at their backs from the off, with fly-half Rhys Evans kicking Burnage in an early lead through a penalty goal.

However neither side boasted a significant early advantage and both made consistent errors.

York winger Sam Elliot was the first to react to a mishandled Burnage pass in midfield, showing clean hands to pick up and run in for the game's first try.

Both sides continued to create try-scoring opportunities. Evans missed a lengthy penalty kick for Burnage and a foot in touch denied Elliot a long-range try.

York's scrum, which featured Kyle Consterdine, Eddie Westaby and Ross White in the front row, began to play an important role.

With York now in possession, at the other end of the pitch, Declan Cusack passed long to full-back Liam Hessay.

Sam Taylor held his space on the wing, leaving the lone Burnage defender an impossible task as Hessay eased over the line.

Before half time, Tom Woffendin carried from the back of an attacking York scrummage five metres from the Burnage line.

He released a short pass to inside centre Will Fordy who crashed over the line.

With all three conversions added by Cusack, York held a 21-3 lead at the break.

The hosts increased their advantage shortly after the restart.

York bagged their bonus-point try when Woffendin picked a direct gap at the side of a scrummage close to the Burnage line.

This time he touched down himself and again Cusack converted.

Burnage did though managed to hit back and score a deserved converted try.

After consistent attempts at the line, a Burnage front-rower forced his way over.

There was to be no comeback though for the Manchester club.

Elliot beat his defender and scored his second try of the game with 10 minutes remaining, with Cusack duly adding the extras.

Late on, Tom Hicks capped York’s victory. He broke free and ran to the corner from 50 metres out.

Cusack missed his conversion for the first time, leaving his afternoon's tally at at five from six attempts.

Victory for York sees them finish with a 50/50 record after 10 matches, winning five and losing five, in their debut North Premier season.

The Clifton Park club sit seventh in the league table as a result, 13 points clear of the relegation zone of the bottom three and 16 points adrift of second-placed Preston Grasshoppers, who occupy the division's play-off place after eight wins from their opening 10.

Elsewhere, in North One East, Pocklington also ended a two-match losing run by winning 31-21 at Ilkley.

Pock now find themselves two places above the relegation places but a significant 20 points ahead of 12th-placed Consett.

Selby RUFC continued their Yorkshire One play-off push by securing a 19-3 victory at home to Goole.

Old Crossleyans, 10 points above Selby, are in possession on the division's play-off spot.

Meanwhile, in the Yorkshire Four North/West, Nestle Rowntree came out on top in the derby clash at York RI, taking the bragging rights after a 26-0 triumph.

In front of large crowd, Trees had the wind at their backs from the kick off but a shaky start saw them unable to put any sort of play together.

As a result, it was RI who looked to have produced the first score but a wayward pass saw centre Ollie Neill intercept and run the full length to score on 20 minutes, with Ali O'Gara converting.

Rowntree began to find some rhythm thereafter and, five minutes later, a good move was finished off by full-back Ben Suckling, scoring from 22 metres out. O'Gara again added the extras.

O'Gara added more points to his personal tally when, after a period of intense pressure, he scampered over the whitewash but missed the kick.

After half time, Trees had to conjure some superb defence to keep RI scoreless.

The game finally ended with Rowntree again scoring another interception try.

This time wing Sam Croft outpaced the defence to score late on, with Neill successful from the tee when taking over from O'Gara.

Victory for the visiting Trees ensured a memorable and rare triumph over RI and also sees them two places and 20 points ahead of them in the league standings.