YORK RUFC made it two wins from two in their league campaign to move into second position.

After last weekend’s 28-7 victory over Alnwick, Graham Steadman’s side maintained their 100 per cent record in a tight affair against Blaydon.

From the kick-off York were fast out of the blocks and camping in the oppositions 22m , awarded a simple kickable penalty in front of the posts, they spurned this opportunity and decided to go to the corner.

From the ensuing lineout the visitors were penalised allowing the home side to clear their lines.

A series of penalties awarded to both teams led to an opportunity on the 22m and in front of the posts. This time Harry Shackleton, with his reliable left boot, gave York an early lead. 0-3.

From the restart Blaydon put the York line under siege, and the experienced centre Alex Clarke broke the line to score under the posts for John Clarkson to convert. 7-3.

The referee was very busy awarding penalties to both teams, eventually he had had enough, and a collapsed scrum on the Blaydon line saw a penalty try caused by the power of the visitors’ pack. 7-10.

The new laws were tested when York were awarded a free-kick. In the past a scrum would have been a choice, however, after a slight delay York took the tap.

Blaydon were now testing the York defence; great defensive sets keep the opposition at bay. Blaydon kept the ball alive and created phases, eventually finding their man of the match, Cameron Ray, outside his wing unmarked to run in for an unconverted try, just before half time. 12-10.

Eddie Westerby normally engaged in close quarter combat popped up to make a 30m line break. Is he going all the way for his moment of glory? Alas - he is felled with the line in sight! Line breaks by Henry de Boulay and Ben Mills go unsupported.

Such attacks see Blaydon defending and causing them to stray offside in midfield. This is the opportunity for Shackleton to take an easy three points. 12-13.

York are again quickly on the attack, a scrum on the Blaydon 22m with a blindside created for Toby Atkin to work in engaging defenders. This finds de Boulay on his shoulder who scores in the right-hand corner, and Shackleton lands the particularly important conversion. 12-20.

A yellow card for Blaydon’s Austin Phillip creates more pressure for their set scrum, but a rally from the home side later in the match would provide a shock.

York made a change, with Ben Dent moving to the wing, de Boulay to inside centre, replacing Will Fordy, who is nursing a knee injury.

There follows a well-worked training ground move, which sees the new centre run powerfully to the line, Shackleton unable to convert. 12-25.

From the restart Blaydon worked the touchline to create a lineout 5m out, using their dominant lineout they create a maul, for the returned Austin Phillip to touch down, for an unconverted try. 17-25.

The pressure is now piled on York, defending to save the match, a penalty on the York 22m and in front of the posts sees Blaydon go for the corner.

The York captain, Archie Fothergill, stole the lineout and cleared, but only briefly, with pressure quickly moving back to the visitor’s line.

The lively Blaydon scrum-half breaks the stout defence and squeezes through a small gap for the try, but the kickable conversion is missed. 22-25.

Right to the end Blaydon keep the pressure on – fighting to get that home win.

Stout defence from York sees a turnover stifle the attack and the referee signals the end of the match.

A relieved York team come away with a hard-fought victory on a ground that will undoubtedly see many home wins this season.