York tried valiantly at Clifton Park to earn victory as a tribute to their popular member Tony Williams, a past president of the Yorkshire RFU, who died early on Saturday after a short illness.

However, York were outgunned by the superior pace of Old Brodleians' backs and went down 38-32 after conceding too much in the first half.

York were immediately on the attack and came away in profit. After a burst by centre Stu Davies, fly-half Mark Roberts switched play to the blind side and his long pass found flanker Lee Denham in space on the wing for an easy run-in, but Mike Ford could not convert.

Within five minutes Brods were in the lead when a high, deep, wind-assisted kick eluded the York defence and Brods' centre Jason Carroll seized the loose ball to score near the posts. Adam Standeven converted.

Soon afterwards, York regained the lead when an offside penalty was converted by Ford.

It was proving to be an entertaining encounter, with both sides moving the ball about and Brods using the wind to establish position.

York nearly extended their lead when lock Dave Spanton charged down a kick, recovered the ball and sent Denham away on the charge.

Nevertheless, it was the Brods threequarters who had the upperhand as their pace had York in disarray and winger Ashley Cavalier went over down the left and Standeven made a good conversion.

Worse was to follow for York from the restart when they conceded a penalty for a high tackle.

Brods were quickly on the attack and Cavalier went clear again. Standeven converted to give his side a 21-8 lead.

With the writing on the wall, York were not daunted and a Roberts penalty took them deep into the visitors' 22 where Spanton won the lineout.

A poor scrambling Arkle pass was fielded at inside centre by Sean Bass. He shrugged off the first tackle and from a standing start sped through the Brods' defence to score under the posts. Ford converted.

And, with the interval in sight and only a six-point deficit, York appeared to have the chance of utilising the wind to secure victory.

But disaster struck after Denham had put winger Rob Karma on a jinking 40 metre run and prop Dave Dorking surged forward.

However, he was unsupported and Brods gained possession and spun the ball left to Cavalier who grabbed his hat-trick try for Standeven to convert for an interval score of 28-15.

York had the better of the second half but were never able to subdue the Brods' outsides, whose collective pace often found York badly aligned in defence.

Yet York scored early when Andy Kay burst over from a maul on the Brods line. Ford converted.

Brods returned their two score advantage when a passing move down the right saw Carroll score his second try. Standeven converted.

York continued to have territorial advantage, but the loss of two lineout feeds undermined their position.

However, the pack was beginning to obtain supremacy in the tight.

A strike against the head saw James Arkle and Denham put Karma clear for an unconverted try to make the score 35-27.

Standeven extended his sides lead with a penalty kick when York went offside.

With five minutes left York scored when they took a pushover try.

They continued to attack and a last-minute victory looked possible but they could not sustain the fluency of their passing and Brods were relieved but worthy victors.

With over 70 points in their last two matches York appear to have found their scoring touch.

This will be vital next weekend against Selby, where tight marking and resolute tackling are likely to be the order of the day.

Updated: 11:53 Monday, February 25, 2002