YORK RUFC fell to a spirited 40-23 defeat to Alnwick in the York RUFC annual charity game.

The charity match takes place yearly and raises funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, through the 'My name's Doddie' foundation.

With that being said, York donned their bespoke charity shirts and enjoyed a tight-knit match against Alnwick.

York started the game very well, taking the game to Alnwick with some great interplay and building pressure that forced an Alnwick man to infringe.

An early penalty for York proceeded, which Harry Shackleton struck confidently to give York an early lead.

York gather the restart well and their fast start to the game was about to get even better with a contender for 'try of the season'.

Declan completed a smart pass to Shackleton who received the ball in his own half, before dummying to break the first line of defence, before gliding to his right, performing some clever movement to leave the Alnwick defence with their legs crossed and head in their hands. Shackleton dots down to the left of the post, before calmly converting the following penalty.

Alnwick were keen to have an impact in the restart, but York’s line speed on their own line was excellent, putting pressure on the hands of the Alnwick’s ball carriers and forcing a knock on.

The away side did eventually find a breakthrough however, shifting the ball through the width of the pitch to score in the left corner.

The two teams continue to be very closely matched, but as Alnwick tried to force the ball forward, York were awarded the three points with Shackleton converting on a defensive mishap.

From the Alnwick restart the York fans were to be given another try of the season contender.

Some brilliant team play, involving Gus, Ross, Will and Tom ended with the latter beating the covering tackler by stepping inside before racing the ball over the line. Shackleton was unable to convert the penalty for the first time.

Heading into the second half, Alnwick immediately tried to find a way back into the match, winning a foul after York held onto the ball before too long and taking it from deep to result in a try after a long-ranged kick to the corner.

In a matter of minutes, the game was flipped on its head with Alnwick stealing the lead for the first time in the match.

With Alnwick now 21-18 ahead, York quickly added a new twist from the end-to-end match, with Tom sprinting onto Will's pass to nab his second try of the match and to retake the lead for York.

But with time running out, so were York's energy levels, resulting in the game-winning moments for Alnwick.

The first two of the tries that Alnwick scored were moved excellently in the hands along with powerful running to break down the York defence.

The third try was some brilliant play where a chip and chase was regathered, leaving the York defence stretched. From the ruck there was more great interplay from Alnwick and space opened up for their man to score, seeing the scoreline as now 40-23.