A sparkling first half performance in the rain laid the foundation for York's 33-14 Yorkshire One success at Wheatley Hills.

Good defence and a wet ball twice thwarted York winger Rob Kama early on but York soon took the lead when fly-half Carl Patterson floated a long pass to outside centre Nick Ventress, who took a superb inward angle and broke clear to the posts.

Despite the conditions, York continued to play enterprising rugby and were rewarded when prop Corry Wallace floated a long pass to full-back Mike Westwood, who sent Billy Cakuntabua racing 40 metres to the line shrugging defenders off in his wake.

Kama scored a trade-mark try when he wriggled through a seemingly impenetrable wall of defenders from a scrum close to the Hills line.

The hosts came back as lineout man Simon Howarth gave them plentiful possession and York began to concede penalties. Hills capitalised on territory when lock Gavin Morgan powered over from close quarters, Craig Howarth goaling.

As half time approached Patterson and Ventress did a repeat to see the centre crash over with four men on his back, Patterson's third conversion making it 26 -7.

The second period was more dour with Hills playing a robust forward game. York were disrupted when Patterson and hooker Jon Sharpe went off injured ten minutes into the half and the Doncaster club enjoyed more of the play, with winger Terry Beedham strolling through an unfocused defence, Howarth converting.

Another Hills score seemed possible but the match was sealed by a wonder try from scrum-half Graham Smith. He broke from a scrum on the right touch to race to the 22 where he eluded the cover by swerving across field, using support runners as decoys to touch down to the left of the posts. Ventress converted.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, October 10, 2005