IN a see-saw match full of thrills and spills, York RUFC booked their place in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Shield after overcoming Scarborough 42-27 at Clifton Park.

It had the atmosphere of an end-of-season exhibition game and, with a total of ten tries scored by both sides, it was a superb spectacle of running rugby.

The Clifton Parkers got out of the blocks faster and, after Neil McClure slotted a penalty on five minutes, the full-back then started and finished the move for the first try soon after.

His pass on the ten-metre line found centre Rob Taylor in space, who returned the favour, setting McClure away to dive over in the corner. Matt Jones reduced the deficit with a penalty before Rob Kama ducked and weaved past two flailing Scarborough defenders to score after fly-half Nic Ventress picked him out.

With 20 minutes gone, and leading 13-3, it looked like an easy passage for York but the Seasiders had other ideas.

Fijian flanker Junior Tupai scored after York's Adie Martin was unable to control a high kick deep in his 22 and then, after 34 minutes, the Clifton Parkers conceded a second soft try when, following a line-out, Tupai was unhindered and passed outside to Jones who battered through a tackle to touch down.

York now trailed 15-13, but they still went into the half with a five-point lead. Four minutes into stoppage-time, Ventress surged into Scarborough territory on a line break before passing outside to flanker Andy Kay, who was just able to beat the chasing defenders.

Where the first-half had been explosive, it took 20 minutes for the game to warm up again after the break. McClure extended York's lead to 23-15 with a penalty but Scarborough then hit back almost immediately.

Tupai, who was giving York's drift defence considerable grief, was again involved - capitalising on York uncertainty to feed Dave Snodin on the right touchline at half-way.

Snodin won the foot race to the line but York were unhappy to have conceded a long-range try. Once again, just as Scarborough believed they could win, York pulled away.

First Grant Williams crossed at the culmination of a move which saw a trademark mazy run from Kama.

Then, with ten minutes left, replacement Brad MacDonald showed his own impressive turn of speed to touch down and make it 35-22.

As the game wound down, Tupai gobbled up the easiest of tries following a mix-up between York scrum-half Chris Preen and Ventress.

But there was still time for Kay to notch up his second deep in injury time.