YORK RI started the season in great style with a comprehensive 59-8 defeat of Wetherby in a friendly fixture.

Playing against the wind in the first half RI opened the scoring in the fifth minute when, from a scrum on the Wetherby, Erickson Atkins burst through the centre to score. Matthew Yates converted for a 7-0 lead.

RI extended their lead in the 10th minute when Atkins' fellow centre, Paul Betts, touched down in the corner.

Wetherby's first excursion into RI territory saw them reduce the arrears with a Keith Wilson penalty.

However, this was only short-lived as RI made the half-time score 19-3 with a good mis-move in the backs that freed winger Tim Nash to score under the posts. Yates added on the extras.

Five minutes after the interval winger Matthew Madigan scored the first of his two second half tries. Further tries by Atkins, Ian Hassell, Paul Reed and John Alexander - four of which were converted by Yates - gave RI a massive 59-3 lead.

Wetherby had the last word when full-back Turner scored a consolation try.

Pocklington opened their season with a convincing 36-8 victory over Leeds outfit Roundhegians.

Pock had the early pressure and prop George Mangalo was unlucky in the fourth minute when he battered over but was adjudged to have been held on his back.

Pocklington came close on a couple more occasions but it needed a piece of magic from fly-half Kevin Bowling to break the deadlock in the 20th minute.

Bowling side-stepped through the cover on half-way, outpaced the winger and handed off the full-back to score wide out.

Roundhegians hit back with a long range penalty but Pocklington got back in the driving seat when both flankers combined for Carl Stannard to squeeze over in the corner.

Pocklington moved out of sight before the interval as teenage centre Harry Allen flew in from his own half from an interception and scrum half Andy Kirby darted over from close range with winger Andy Walker converting both touchdowns.

It was more even second half and Pocklington has to wait until into the last quarter before putting together a good piece of inter-passing in the backs which ended with new centre Guy Wilson stretching over.

Roundhegians gained a consolation try when their scrum half made it to the corner but Pocklington had the final word when more good back play brought a try for full-back Andy Mair which Walker converted.

Nestl Rowntree relied on Ashley Walters, George Atkinson and Ivor Jackson to produce their points in a 64-14 defeat against Leodiensians' third team.

Wingman Walters and scrum half Atkinson scored tries leaving Jackson to add the conversions.

The main bright spot for Trees being an encouraging performance from Darren Loughlin on his debut at lock forward.

York warmed up for their Yorkshire League One campaign with a 28-25 club friendly victory at West Leeds.

Selby were beaten 38-14 at home by Darlington.

Updated: 12:27 Monday, September 03, 2001