ONE of York Rugby Union Club first team's consistent features in this disappointing season has been their very inconsistency.From an impressive start when they topped the league - there have been great displays - punctuated by thoroughly indifferent performances.

In Saturday's crucial relegation encounter they needed to stamp early authority on the game and swamp their opponents.But what happened was that York somehow contrived to give fellow strugglers Blackburn a 19-0 lead in the space of 25 minutes - and eventually went down 25-19 to a very average Lancastrian outfit.

This game, which was sponsored by Langleys Solicitors, was only made exciting by York's attempts in the second half to claw their way back into contention.

The tale of woe started in the tenth minute when the Clifton Park side gifted their opponents seven points with an interception try.

The referee had allowed advantage to York for a knock-on, the home side attempted to run the ball and the visitors' centre Simon Greenhaugh accepted a wayward pass to race in for the converted try.

Worse was to follow. An 'up and under' was collected by winger Payne with colleagues suspiciously offside - no whistle - as the winger brushed aside weak tackles to touch down in the corner scoreline 12-0.

York, despite the breeze at their backs, seemed incapable of getting to grips with the visitors and found themselves further in arrears when the referee awarded a penalty try for an alleged high tackle near the posts.

At long last York seemed to wake up to the fact that the game was slipping away from them and took play to the Blackburn line but, as so often happens, possession was lost in the tackle and the opportunity went begging.

Pressure was sustained, however, and on the stroke of half time, second row Steve Humphries drove over the line following a quickly taken tap penalty and good approach work by Gary Cassidy and Pete Curtis.

Within two minutes of the restart Blackburn extended their lead to 22-5 with a penalty from fly half Nick Westhead.

Stung by this, York began to dominate. From a tap penalty near the posts hooker Neil Lineham claimed the touchdown as the wedge of forwards drove powerfully over the line. Nathan Savage added the conversion. The game at last became alight as both sides fought hard for supremacy.

Blackburn looked dangerous on the break but York were equal to the occasion, Sean Bass producing two superb tackles.A brilliant run by winger Rob Liddle was halted short of the line as York shuffled the side, Ian Davies replacing Julian McTavish, who had made an outstanding contribution, and Rob Doyle coming on for Gareth Jeffries.

Unrelenting forward pressure coupled with neat handling in the backs and full back Rich Stevenson being eager to link-up had the visitors stretched to the limit.

The final ten minutes were frantic. York's forwards maintained their momentum with fine driving play resulting in vice captain Pete Curtis touching down for another converted try. The deficit was down to three points.

Blackburn, however, rallied, gained territorial advantage and kicked a penalty before the final whistle.

They are now safe from relegation but York's fate will be decided on April 25, the date of the last league fixtures.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.