MISSING players could not hold back York RUFC Under-14s when they hosted Moortown, writes Steve Carroll. Both squads were hit by the North Yorkshire squad trials, but the young Clifton Parkers reacted best and recorded a 33-7 victory.

It was Moortown who went in front on 15 minutes after an even start.

York gave away ground with a penalty and Moortown capitalised by driving the ball hard and passing out to their backs to get the opening try.

The Clifton Parkers came back strongly and, after a long spell of pressure which involved prop Ed Meek and number eight Stuart Leigh, the backs quickly cleared the ball from a ruck and winger Aled Davies managed to cross the line to tie the scores at 7-7 at half-time.

York came out fighting in the second half and, with only three minutes gone, another great sequence of possession by the York forwards saw first, Dan Brown make good yardage, then Meek make a dash for the line only to be held up.

A well-presented ball gave George Toplis a nice pick-up and comfortable charge to cross the line.

Sloppy play hindered York for a spell but, when they got back into the swing of it, they scored a series of tries in the latter stages of the second period.

First, the forwards set up Leigh before a very professional backs loop move saw fly-half Hamish Lynde cross.

He converted his own try and, with Moortown looking a bit weary, the York forwards turned the ball over and it was quickly passed out to York winger Matt Jopling.

Leigh was man-of-the-match while Lynde, who scored 13 points on his return from injury, along with Alistair Skelton, Dan Tuxford and Josh Owen were commended.