YORK RUFC were unable to end Driffield's 100 per cent start to the Regional One North East after a narrow 24-19 home defeat.

Driffield made a blistering start, scoring inside the first six minutes through Edward Falkingham from 20 minutes out, with York having not touched the ball.

Ryan Murray added the first of three conversions from as many attempts.

York eventually enjoyed some possession and made it count when Jonathon Atkinson broke clear from halfway.

Driffield centre Adam Brankley was sin-binned but the hosts could not profit from numerical advantage.

Instead it was the visitors who would score next, Ben Dinsdale crossing the whitewash from a line-out play.

York cut the gap through a George Davies penalty goal on the half-hour mark but, despite spending the reminder of the first period in the Driffield half, could not further reduce the 14-8 deficit.

Another Davies three-pointer kicked off the second-half points and some further Driffield ill-discipline saw the away side concede multiple penalties, although York opted not to kick for goal.

Mistakes from the subsequent scrums allowed Driffield to clear before eventually finding the try of the match.

The ball went through several hands to stretch the York defence and seeing substitute Jack Sowersby race under the sticks.

Driffield were again down to 14 players when Joseph Robinson was yellow-carded, giving Davies a third penalty goal.

From the restart however, York gave away a couple of quick-fire penalties, with Murray kicking the latter.

Trailing 24-14, York once more could not make their man advantage count and it took until the 77th minute before they found a second-half try.

Sam Elliot crossed the whitewash out wide for the home side but it proved too little too late for York, who are now 8th in the table.

York face Regional One North East leaders Heath, who, like Driffield, have five wins from their first five matches, on Saturday, October 15 (3pm).

Meanwhile, in the Regional Two North East, Malton and Norton suffered their first defeat of the season in a 48-17 loss at Bridlington.

Malton, who have dropped to second, host sixth-placed Dronfield on Saturday, October 15 (3pm).

Pocklington were beaten 39-29 at Pontefract and will be seeking to get back to winning ways at home to Scarborough on Saturday, October 15 (3pm).

After back-to-back defeats, Selby returned to winning ways in a 13-10 victory over Morley and now sit 9th, one place below Pock.

Selby travel to Old Crossleyans on Saturday, October 15 (3pm).

Nestle Rowntree and York RI suffered heavy defeats in the Counties Four Yorkshire, losing 55-12 and 41-5 at Old Otliensians and Stocksbridge respectively.

Rowntree host Rotherham Phoenix and RI travel to Leeds Modernians on Saturday, October 15 (3pm).