YORK RUFC Under-17 Junior Colts have added further honours to last year’s Yorkshire Cup triumph by being crowned North of England champions after a hard-fought clash at Wharfedale.

York, the Yorkshire Colts division one leaders, had beaten Chester 10-5 in the last eight and Warrington 15-3 in the semis, and they saw off a strong Wharfedale outfit 17-3 on their own turf in a fine final in a front of a large crowd.

Captain Joe Simpson duly received the trophy from John Spencer, current British and Irish Lions manager, and the team will now meet Midlands champions Olney in the National Cup semi-final, the winners of which will meet South East champions Worthing or South West champions Chinnor for the English crown.

Wharfedale went into the North final on the back of a successful season but head coach Paddy Stephen's York side - which features five players picked for the Yorkshire squad - came out of the blocks strongly.

Early pressure with pacy backs running hard was rewarded with a try in only the third minute by Angus Barrick.

This platform was backed up by a strong pack, who dominated in the scrum and competed well in the breakdown to give the backs room to run freely.

Two more tries followed - Grayson Maguire and Will Fordy going over, with a conversion by Sam Elliot making it 17-0 by half-time.

It wasn't over, though, as Wharfedale came out strongly in the second half and won and converted a penalty to cut the gap to 17-3.

York then missed a penalty but pressed hard, twice being thwarted at the last moment, firstly by a knock-on and then a foot in touch.

In the third quarter, the hosts sensed a chance and started to attack, but York's defence stood firm and they held for a superb success.