FALL GUY: A Morpeth player dives at the feet of York's Gary Cassidy in an attempt to stop him hacking through at Clifton Park

York 25, Morpeth 24

Goal-kicker Nathan Savage ended York Rugby Union Club's long run without a league victory with the last kick of the match to beat Morpeth 25-24 at Clifton park.

The last-gasp pressure kick not only eased York away from the relegation zone but enabled them to complete the double over the Northumberland side, who included four players with county honours.

Nail-biting and certainly not for the faint hearted the result of the game, sponsored by Adams Hydraulics Ltd, was poised on a knife edge until the last and vital kick of this absorbing match.

Morpeth's strength was built around their powerful front five who spearheaded most of their attacks, but York opened the scoring on the quarter hour with a Savage penalty.

The visitors response was almost immediate, as from a tap penalty five metres out, a set move drive by the pack propelled prop Duncan Clark over the line.

Fly-half Chris Lishman who, fortunately for York, had an off day with his place kicking was wide of the target with his attempted conversion.

A Savage penalty restored York's one point advantage at the end of a first half, in which Morpeth, with their powerful pack and speedy backs, had the edge.

York, however, came out of the traps with startling speed after the break and aided by a well judged penalty kick to the corner from Gary Cassidy, drove deep into enemy territory. From lineout, the forwards gained possession, twisted and turned over the line for flanker Lee Jones to claim the touchdown - and the gap, in the space of five minutes, had widened to 11-5.

Elation was shortlived as again Morpeth swung into action - a penalty was conceded close to the home line and the earlier scoring move was repeated, this time with flanker John Stafford taking the honours.

It was lively, tense and enjoyable rugby as both sides fought hard for supremacy. Chances were created but the tackling was immense. However, midway through the half, York conjured up the try of the match.

From a set scrum in home territory the half backs combined to allow centres Sean Bass and Russ Allerton to demonstrate their attacking capabilities - the latter well-timed pass to Rob Liddle saw the winger set off on an electrifying burst down the flank - he cut inside on the 22 metre line, wrong footing the opposition to cross behind the posts. Savage added the conversion.

At 18-10 a rare win for York looked on the cards, particularly after full back Rich Stevenson almost broke through the middle.

But in the space of a nightmare ten minutes - it all went horribly wrong. Morpeth, as always, reliant on their formidable pack gained a pushover try by scrum half Paul Jackson converted by Lishman and moments later the scrum half sped through the gap in the York cover for a converted try to go 24-18 ahead.

With nothing to lose and time ticking away - York ran the ball in a desperate attempt to retrieve the situation. Three tap penalties close to the visitors line - all to no avail but when its mattered most - Dai Lockyer and his team dug deep and created a victory that hardly seemed likely as the visitors' defence held firm.

But deep into injury time, York gained possession and the ball was quickly transferred to winger Gareth Jeffries who dived over between posts and corner flag.

Needing the conversion to win the game, Savage stepped up for an angled and none too easy kick. As he tteed up the ball Savage was told that it would be the last kick of the match, but Savage kept his nerve - the ball sailed straight and true for York's first league victory since November.

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