YORK RUFC looked doomed to relegation back to Yorkshire One after losing 18-15 at fellow North Two East strugglers Horden.

Prospects for survival looked good for York when they led with 20 minutes remaining but, as so often this season, they saw their advantage vanish in the later stages.

Horden opened the scoring when right winger Paul Bruce went over, but the Clifton Parkers were not rattled and hit back with a sweeping move among the three-quarters. Speedy left-winger Sam Arkle went over for a try converted by Ben Quick.

The match was tight and tense, but Arkle put York in control when he scored his second try after a powerful drive by his forwards. When the North-East side were caught offside on the stroke of half-time, Quick added a penalty and York looked on course for a vital win at 15-4.

But it all went wrong in the second period.

Horden hit back when centre Andrew Turner slotted over a penalty and when York prop Dave Dorking was sin-binned for collapsing a maul, the home side took full advantage.

With York a man light, Horden scrum-half Andrew Raine scored a try and Turner's conversion levelled the scores at 15-15.

In a tense finale, Horden were awarded a penalty four minutes from the end which Turner slotted over.

York could have levelled when they too, were awarded a penalty. But knowing they needed the victory they opted to run the ball but the home defence held firm.

Defeat leaves York on the very edge of relegation.

Bottom club Northern are already down and York are now just above them.

The men from Clifton Park are three points adrift of the nearest team, Bridlington, who were thumped 22-46 at home by Morpeth.

Brid are, in turn, two points behind Sandal and Redcar.

Bridlington were undone at Dukes Park by a hat-trick of tries by Dave Wall. The highlight for the home side was a couple of tries by stand-off Jamie Muru.

Former Selby rugby union star Carl Paterson was at the hub of Hull's 26-20 victory at West Hartlepool.

The victory stretched their 100 percent winning sequence to 19 matches and they now have an impregnable nine point lead at the top.

That's a daughting prospect for York who entertain Hull at Clifton Park this coming Saturday.

Updated: 12:11 Monday, March 08, 2004