YORK strengthened their seven-point lead at the Regional 1 North East summit with a dominant 35-17 victory at Blaydon - becoming the first away team to win on their artificial surface this season.

The early exchanges saw the home side exert territorial advantage, and they showed their ability to maintain possession for the first 10 minutes of the game. 

Eventually York reached their opponents’ 22, using three very effective pick and goes, and then a quick recycle. 

The ball moved quickly to the open side to Harry Shackleton, who then doubled back to the blindside. Using very delicate footwork, with the ability to stay on his feet, a 2v1 situation was created with Sam Croft in support outside.

Shackleton though decided he did not need Croft and produced a beautiful dummy, opening up a clear path for him to crash over the whitewash before converting his own try.

Midway through the half, Blaydon wrestled their way back into the tie, as after driving deep into the York 22, they were awarded a penalty.

It was duly placed into the corner, and with York not contesting, the ball was recycled to Nathan Horsfall, who broke through the defensive line to score by the uprights.

The conversion though proved not to match the finish, as it was floated wide.

York then produced some thrilling handling on the edges, involving Jonty Atkinson, Toby Atkin and Shackleton. The trio gave variety, with line-outs beginning to function, producing good possession off the top and a powerful scrum going forward.

Angus Barick and Liam Hessay combined to restore York’s advantage, with the supporting Dan Evans making no mistake to score underneath the posts with the line at his mercy. 

And they were across the whitewash again minutes later, Will Fordy making a clean break through the centre of the Blaydon defence before playing in Shane Goulding, who had the pace to finish the movement.

Shackleton converted both scores, with his side firmly on top.

The half’s conclusion saw a series of unforced errors and penalties from both sides, but they were met with an equally stout defence.

Luke Stockton drove three Blaydon players off the ball in the last action before the interval, though could not add to his side’s healthy 21-5 advantage.

York rang in the changes at the beginning of the second half, introducing Joe Maud and the impactful Kyle Consterdine  into the forwards.

A dash close to the line by the big prop looked like being unstoppable and needed a very good tackle to stop him, before he could not apply the finishing touch to an outstanding 50-metre run.

Blaydon instead brought themselves back into the arm-wrestle, as after winning a line-out on York’s 5-metre line, they scored a replica of their opening try, Roy Foster profiting for Nathan Gough to convert.

Atkinson was next to cross the whitewash for York after a neat overlap, the 28-12 scoreline providing the impetus for the visitors to take their foot off the gas.

After a yellow card was brandished for a knock-on, the hosts pounced, producing a driving maul for Alex Dodds to score, with Gough again adding the extras.

It was York that had the final word however, a strong run seeing Maud break into the Blaydon half, playing in Mitch Ashman, who cruised in to score from the wing.

Shackleton was again on target with a touch-line conversion, wrapping up a deserved 35-17 triumph.