YORK RUFC maintained their leadership of Powergen Northumberland and Durham One by beating Ponteland 42-7 at Clifton Park.

In less windy conditions and with more care, the score could well have been much bigger.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with York showing ambition in attack and Ponteland displaying a rugged forward approach. They missed the chance to go ahead after seven minutes when a penalty opportunity went begging.

The home side began to get more control and a neat chip by scrum half Graham Smith was voraciously followed by the York pack to establish a maul on the visitors' line. Hooker Rob Allen peeled off to touch down.

Heavy rain joined the wind to make conditions difficult for enterprising rugby but on 30 minutes York went further ahead with a sweeping move.

Wingman Rob Liddle made progress down the left and was supported by fellow winger Rob Kama. The ball was reversed out to the right where full-back Tom Copeland entered the line to crash through the last tackle to score an unconverted try.

Immeditaley, Ponteland put pressure on the hosts with a long kick ahead from scrum-half Andy Raine which forced York to concede a lineout from which Raine crashed over to score. Bill MacGawley secured the conversion.

York had to endure tough visitor pressure in the remaining minutes to half-time but held a 10-7 lead at the break.

Stu Davies started the second half at flanker, replacing the injured Andy Kay, and York were soon on the attack through Kama who could have grabbed a try if he had used his pace to run round a static defender instead of chipping over his head.

Within minutes he had made amends - setting up a smooth handling attack down the right where Liddle motored over in the corner.

Liddle's reward was to be replaced by former York RL man Leigh Deakin and with Kama, the two ex-rugby league fliers nearly fashioned a try when Deakin was held five yards short.

Nick Ventress added a penalty and, as the last quarter approached, it was clear the Newcastle-based visiting pack was tiring. Powerful York No 8 Ian Davies exploited this weakness by claiming a hat-trick of tries with thundering bursts from close in.

In between, York played some attractive passing rugby only marred by final passes going astray. One move, which saw the ball pass through several hands, resulted in a neat chip forward from Smith which Stu Davies touched down.

Both Ventress brothers kicked a conversion apiece to earn their team a comfortable win and maintain its unbeaten record.

Updated: 09:17 Monday, October 04, 2004