CITY of York I's glorious season as NHL Division One champions with a club record number of points ended in stalemate against Leeds I.

City, having played a tight game against Leeds before Christmas, knew what to expect and tried to play a wide game to draw them out.

They were marginally successful in that they created more chances than the visitors and forced two short corners. Both were well defended, though it needed a diving stick stop by the 'keeper to keep out a Nick Carter shot on the second occasion.

York applied all the pressure with Leeds being forced to attack on the break, but they lacked imagination and guile.

In the second half, Volker Bilderich had the two best chances to put City ahead, each being a reverse stick shot, his particular speciality.

The first one he put along the ground and it was cleared off the line, the second he aimed to put high into the roof of Leeds' net but he succeeded only in clearing the crossbar and almost clearing the perimeter fence. Eventually the game petered out into a goalless draw.

Elsewhere, Oxton lost to Doncaster II and went down to third place, forfeiting their right to promotion, while Alderley Edge beat Rotherham to go second and join City of York in the premier division 2002-03.

With 53 points City of York go up with three more points than they had when they first joined the top-flight premier division in 1998-99.

City of York III were also in celebratory mood when they gained promotion from YHL Division 4 with a 9-2 battering of Bradford II.

Bizarrely, it was Bradford who showed all the early initiative, but they could not turn it into goals.

York, on the other hand, once they had wrested the initiative from Bradford, turned all their chances into goals.

Adam Jackson, after 15 minutes and from a short corner, put City ahead and then Richard Jenkin scored twice in quick succession to give City the whip-hand.

A sublime flick by Ian Butler added a fourth before Jason Bemrose set up Jimmy Flint for the fifth.

Bradford managed to pull one back and then scored another after the break.

With the score at 5-2 City changed up a gear, swamping Bradford with four more goals. Two were hit by Flint to complete his hat-trick, with one apiece for Bemrose and Jackson.

After having been adrift before Christmas City III have now won ten of their last 11 games and secured promotion and, depending on results elsewhere, may yet go up as champions.

City of York IV edged further away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Slazengers II.

Mark Dransfield opened the scoring, receiving an excellent pass and firing in a terrific shot.

Ashley Watson, in City's goal, had to play one of his best games, making brilliant saves on several occasions, one from a penalty stroke in the first half.

After the break Denis Hootton added a second before Slazengers pulled one back. The game became heated and yellow cards were issued, one to each side before Hootton added a second strike.

City of York V made sure of staying in YHL division six by beating Slazengers III 3-1 at home.

A well laid-off ball by Clive Appleyard gave Matt Fletcher the chance to weave his way through the Slazenger defence and score with a well-struck shot.

Slazengers were reduced at one point to nine men, but City were unable to take advantage.

A penalty stroke awarded to Slazengers gave them the equaliser before half-time but City increased the pace after the break and went ahead with a second for Fletcher.

A superb strike by Chris Smalley from the top of the 'D' gave York a comfortable margin.

City of York VI played at Harrogate V and managed to make their position secure in YHL division seven with a good 4-2 win.

City opened the scoring after two minutes when a short corner routine worked smoothly and Richard Tanner-Smith struck the ball home.

From then on City were on top and Chris Ince picked up a cross from the wing to score City's second.

After the break Doug Thompson picked up the ball early on and ran through the defence before passing to Ince who poached his second.

When Harrogate converted a penalty stroke the scoreline did not really represent City's domination. However, the two-goal margin was restored with a mazy run and shot by Hooton.

Thirsk II needed to beat City of York VII to stay in YHL division eight and City needed the win to have any chance of promotion so their meeting was a keen duel.

Thirsk were a young skilful side but it was York who took the lead from a short corner. Ben Foster stopped the ball cleanly and Neil Buckley hammered it home. Thirsk replied to level at half-time.

In the second half Foster scored a goal which skipper Dick Bowen described as "the best goal of the season."

Foster battled in a crowded circle to get possession of the ball then undercut it into the roof of the net, giving the Thirsk 'keeper no chance.

Thirsk applied all the pressure in the last quarter and levelled.

Even with one point from the game York VII may have just managed a promotion spot.

City of York VIII travelled to Scarborough II and lost 7-0. Richard Cockram strove manfully and James Wallace had a good game but there was little to stop a result which more or less consigns City VIII to relegation.

Updated: 11:24 Tuesday, March 19, 2002