YORK RI gave a much improved performance in defeating Halifax Vandals 22-10 away on Saturday.

Although arriving late due to heavy traffic on the motorway, RI started well and absorbed early Vandals pressure before driving the home side back with strong runs from Ashman, Spilman and Austin.

Vandals were content to use the strong breeze to kick for position and from one of these deep kicks they went in front. The Railwaymen were penalised at the resulting lineout and from a quick tap penalty the Vandals hooker managed to get over the line.

Despite the strong wind, the RI continued to drive the Vandals pack backwards, forcing mistakes to be made.

A poor clearance kick gave the visitors a lineout close to the Halifax line and the ball was caught by Ashman, before being smuggled to Austin, who forced his way over.

Vandals went back in front in the 30th-minute with a try by wing forward Conroy who dived over from a scrum on the RI line.

Nick Ward levelled the

scores just before half-time with a superb individual try. Breaking blind from the scrum, he sliced through the Vandals defence and sprinted 30 yards to score.

RI dominated the second half and scored further tries through Tim Nash and second row Simon Joll, Matthew Yates converting Joll's try to give RI a comfortable 22-10 victory.

Updated: 11:45 Monday, October 14, 2002