YORK RUFC relinquished leadership of the Powergen Durham and Northumberland Division One in an all-penalties 9-6 defeat at Consett.

A fortnight ago York had secured a narrow cup victory over the County Durham club at Clifton Park, so they knew they were in for a stiff battle.

Saturday's match had to be transferred to a reserve pitch as Consett's main pitch was waterlogged. Even so, it was pretty wet, although not particularly boggy.

Conditions were ideal for tough, unremitting forward slog and that was the fare provided as third-placed Consett strived to remain in touch with leaders York and Percy Park.

York began well, with their forwards knocking over their large powerful opponents, and full-back Tom Copeland followed up his own clearance to charge down the return clearance and establish his side well in the home half.

After Nick Ventress missed an early penalty, Consett drew first blood after ten minutes when scrum-half Bernie de Beer converted a penalty as York went offside.

York were showing signs of disrupting their hosts and also took two scrums against the head but there was a tendency to overelaborate whereas Consett concentrated on kicking for position.

However, shortly after the restart, York were awarded a penalty 25 metres out to the left of the posts, which Tom Copeland, called up after success last week, easily converted.

However, York went offside and Consett's winger Mike Kent converted from long range.

The match continued at a furious physical pace with neither side giving a quarter except in the scrums, where York were beginning to have significant superiority.

However, while York have plenty of Tommys fighting in the trenches, they need a General to direct play. The conditions called out for bomb kicks behind the Consett pack or short clips over the tight-marking centres.

York tried handling moves but it was difficult to retain possession. However, they dominated territory and into the final period Tom Copeland squared the scores.

Tempers on both sides became frayed and York were unfortunate when the referee selected lock Brad MacDonald for the game's only sin-bin offence.

A York transgression saw De Beer give his side the lead and with ten minutes left he had another chance as York infringed again but the kick went wide.

York were unable to turn the game round and left disappointed as they probably merited at least a draw. They conceded too many penalties and converted too few.

They now face the tough prospect of having to beat Percy Park in the two fixtures before Christmas and then Consett and Northern on their visits to York in the New Year.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, November 01, 2004