LUCKLESS York RUFC were mugged by Morpeth as they went down to a 16-9 away defeat in North 2 East.

York outplayed, outmuscled and outwitted their hosts for 70 minutes of a tight encounter and should have emerged with two precious points towards their safety goal.

They went into the game boosted by the return of captain Jon Sharpe, but they were without Andy Kay and his absence was crucial in the lineout.

They also missed powerful forward Lee Denham, who pulled out just before kick off with a hamstring injury.

Despite those blows, York played superbly in the first half as they dominated in the set play, retained their own ball in the loose and found some continuity.

York's dominance meant Morpeth coughed up penalties and York took advantage on three occasions via Nic Ventress.

Morpeth had one successful kick, which gave York a 9-3 lead at half-time.

York continued to dominate the game but were pegged back to 9-6 and they then lost Stuart Davies, their most effective player, to a dislocated shoulder.

The visitors conceded two tries late in the game - one from a dubious looking pass from a maul close in and the second off a York lineout on their own line.

Pocklington's trip to Knottingley in Yorkshire Two was postponed.

In Yorkshire Three, York RI were beaten 25-20 in their bottom of the table clash at Thornensians, leaving them rooted to the basement.

The visitors took the lead in the tenth minute with a well worked try by winger Tim Lewis, and Ben Hobson's conversion put RI 7-0 ahead.

With the back line moving well things looked rosy but, as Thornensians' pack began to drag the home side back into the game, RI's old frailties started to show.

A missed tackle let the hosts score in the corner and five minutes later a second try, this time converted, left RI 12-7 behind.

Hobson reduced the arrears with a penalty but Thornensians scored again to make it 19-10 at the interval. RI winger Tom Naylor squeezed in at the corner and at 19-15 it was anybody's game. However, the York side had two players sin-binned for seeking clarification of refereeing decisions, leading to two penalties.

They reduced the arrears with a try by Manu Pate.