A much-changed York team held a fast and powerful Driffield side for an hour but then the pressure told as the Yorkshire One leaders went down 54-14 for their first loss of the season.

York started brightly as Simon Cavey broke into Driffield's 22 only to be tackled by Stefan Hellies, Driffield's French fullback.

Hellies put the first points on the board when he kicked a simple penalty awarded against York for offside, having turned over ball on their own 22.

York soon equalised through the boot of Mike Ford when it was Driffield's turn to be caught offside following a break by Sean Bass.

Driffield replied almost immediately from a scrum on the 22 following a York knock-on from the restart.

South African centre Travis Plumridge drove strongly down the centre of the field and, when stopped, scrum-half Michael Black switched the direction of the attack for left wing Alex Piercy to score a disputed try in the corner.

The touch judge decided that Piercy did not step on the line or hit the corner flag before grounding the ball. Hellies missed the conversion.

Ford put up a high ball which debutant scrum-half James Oxley chased forcing full back Hellies to kick to touch on his own 22.

Subsequent York pressure resulted in Black being tackled over his own line. But York were penalised for off-side and Driffield stand-off Chris McClarron found a good touch.

York soon returned to the Driffield 22 and the home side were caught off-side, Ford kicking three points for York.

An obstruction on stand-off Craig Ventress allowed him to take play into Driffield's 22 where they were again caught off-side. Ford kicked the penalty, giving York the lead for the first time.

Driffield recovered and Hellies kicked a penalty for off-side to put Driffield 11-9 ahead.

While York were down to 14 men, with Bass off receiving treatment, Driffield's second-row Oliver Borman scored the first of what was to be a hat-trick of tries for him. Hellies converted to make it 18-9 at half-time.

Driffield, sensing that York were weakening, eschewed a kickable penalty chance to kick for position, but York's defence held fast and Oxley made a good relieving kick following a turn-over ball.

A run by left wing Piercy carried on by Hellies took play deep into York territory, where after a number of drives a long pass out to Piercy put him in for his second try. Hellies missed the conversion.

York came back again and following a line-out steal by Dave Spanton, playing his first match of the season, York gained a penalty in the Driffield 22. Quick-thinking Bass took a tap-kick to himself and fed Billy Cakaunitala, who scored an unconverted try wide out.

McClarron made a break and although stopped short he fed substitute Robin Kitchen, who scored under the posts to give Hellies an easy conversion.

Driffield began to up the pressure and even with the fresh legs of Simon Humphries and Gareth Thomas chinks in the York defence started to show.

The pack was starting to be pushed around in the tight and it was from losing a ball against the head that Borman scored his second try, which was converted by Hellies.

Borman completed his hat-trick when, after repelling wave after wave of Driffield attacks, York ran out of defenders. Hellies missed the conversion.

York were now looking very tired and their line was crossed again when McClarron crossed unopposed for a converted try.

Driffield right winger Richard Anderson completed the scoring in the last minute and Hellies convered to make the result 54-14.

Updated: 11:31 Monday, October 21, 2002