YORK RUFC remain unbeaten after a dominant 50-13 victory over Cleckheaton for their first home game of the season.

York started briskly, moving the ball from edge to edge, the handling skills are impressive and York are occupying the 22 of Cleckheaton who find themselves having to defend furiously.

The penalty account against Cleckheaton mounts and eventually the pressure tells, with the visitors collapsing to a maul on the line. The referee has had enough and a penalty try is awarded, Matthew Beasty receives a yellow card, and York move 7 points ahead.

The line outs improved this week, and York were getting a stream of good quality possession from the set pieces, the scrum was again very dominant.

Cleckheaton steadied the ship and a powerful carry by Richard Piper made many metres. The ball arrived into the hands of Dale Breakwell, who found a handy touch in the corner. York lose the line out, the opponents set a midfield ruck and Breakwell lands a 30m field drop goal, he has a sweet right boot. 7-3.

From the restart, there were penalties galore awarded to both teams during a scrappy period, with official opting to speak very firmly to both captains.

The errors were put to one side by a lovely touchline run from Joe Simpson, covering 30m to find his skipper Archie Fothergill on his inside shoulder to give him a clear 10m run in, the conversion is missed. 12-3.

York now had to defend their line with good defensive sets and brave tackling from all, keeping their line intact. Eventually the pressure tells, Cleckheaton are awarded a penalty for not releasing, in front of the posts 35 metres out, their no10 converts. 12-6.

York were awarded a penalty for a high tackle in front of the posts, opting for a scrum, which was now so dominant. Toby Atkin from another penalty took a quick tap before being held up over the line, with yet another penalty and scrum Harry Shackleton had had enough and took the three points on offer. 15-6.

From the kick-off, the ball bobbled with Will Fordy pouncing upon his chance, racing 55m to score unopposed under the posts, showing no signs of that ligament injury that plagued him in pre-season. Shackleton added the two points. 22-6.

Cleckheaton’s discipline let them down again, as their no 9 was yellow carded for speaking back to the referee.

York take full advantage of the tiring 14 opponents. Shackleton sent some huge punts, forcing the opposition into conceding field position, and this brought a return punt from Cleckheaton to fall short and into the arms of the elusive fullback, Zac Burlingham.

With ball in hand, Burlingham ran 60m laterally from left to right, beating the cover to score in the right corner, the conversion from the touchline lands on the crossbar and bounces over. 29-6.

Early pressure in the second-half allowed Shackleton to draw his man and find Burlingham, who slipped the ball inside for Fordy to scores neatly in the corner. Shackleton took the conversion. 36-6.

York were penalised in the process, with Cleckheaton deciding to go for the corner and from the line out, 5m out Naill Jackson goes over, Breakwell adding the extras. 36-13.

Another enormous scrum wins York a penalty, where nother scrum is set. Shane Goulding skilfully flipped the ball up for Toby Atkin to score under the posts. 43-13.

Charlie Rae replaced an injured Fothergill to complete a training ground move, Atkin looping over to Fordy, then finding Rae on his shoulder who scores in the corner and the reliable boot of Shackleton converts, rounding off the match in superb style. 50-13.