YORKSHIRE One champions York RUFC suffered their second league defeat of the season with a 52-31 loss at Beverley.

John Dawes kicked a penalty and converted all four of the visitors’ tries from Sam Forbes, Shane Goulding, Darren Rutherford and Lewis Hamilton, but that proved insufficient against the fourth-placed hosts.

With the game having no bearing on the top or bottom of the table, the Clifton Park outfit handed a debut to 17-year-old second row Harrison Savage and kicked off securing possession and playing some very good attacking rugby.

After ten minutes all seemed well too for the away team, who led 10-0 following Forbes’ converted try and Dawes’ penalty.

But, from the restart, Beverley began to flicker into life and excellent handling in midfield allowed them to score under the posts.

York came straight back at their opponents with Liam Hessay slicing straight through the midfield and making a 50-metre break, only for a lack of support resulting in a penalty to Beverley for holding on.

Five minutes later, Toby Atkin broke in similar fashion with the same result.

The Beverley forwards then started to dominate the set piece and breakdown, securing good ball for their excellent back line and, over the next 20 minutes, some scintillating running rugby led to four tries and a 33-10 half-time advantage for the East Yorkshire club.

York started the second half with some good phases of play, pressing the Beverley line, only for normal service to be resumed when a turnover, 10m from the home line, saw the leading team run the full length of the pitch to score under the posts.

York responded when Goulding crossed the line, while tries were traded between the two teams as Rutherford and Hamilton both touched down.

The home side’s final margin of victory was well-deserved, though, with York effectively blown away during that devastating 20-minute spell in the first half and it was an impressive display by Beverley, who should be pushing for promotion next season.

The contest was also very well refereed by Adam Robson, while York travel to Heath next week, targeting a return to winning ways.

Selby finished third from bottom after ending their campaign with a 20-12 win over sixth-placed Moortown.