IT TOOK until the second half of the mid-table Yorkshire Division One clash between Old Brodleians and York for things to live up, a penalty apiece meaning that the interval score was 3-3.

In contrast, there were seven tries in the second half as it finished 27-25 to Brods – but it was a second penalty for York, putting them 6-3 ahead, that caused the hosts to up their energy levels.

The rampaging Darren Rutherford had the ball knocked from his grasp and, three phases later, the home side had the game's first try, which was converted.

Brods' next try was the best of the match and that was also converted for 17-6, a prop then bulldozing over to make it 22-6.

Maybe the hosts felt the match was already in the bag but York reacted well, a well-executed catch and drive paving the way for scrum half Ben Johnson to score.

Brods then scored their bonus-point try to make it 27-11 but York, realising they needed to increase their intensity in the last ten minutes, added tries by Johnson – off the back of a rolling maul – and No 8 Marcus Britland, Jon Dawes converting both to make it 27-25.

York, who host Brods' Halifax rivals Old Crossleyans on Saturday, continued to bang on the door but a penalty for holding on proved their undoing and Brods kicked the ball dead to triumph.

Selby may still be third from bottom but their survival hopes look tenuous after their 38-7 home defeat to third-placed Bridlington and Crossleyans' 33-17 home win over Hullensians, which put them only a point behind.

Bridlington led 14-0 after 11 minutes but had to withstand severe pressure in the second quarter, Selby being held up over the line and also dropping the ball on the whitewash before flanker Matthew Wood was driven over on the half-hour, Will Edwards landing a difficult conversion.

However, two more tries had Selby trailing 26-7 at half-time – but they rallied after Bridlington winger William Davies was sin-binned in the 46th minute, although they could not add to their score, pressure not being converted into points being a pattern that repeated itself in the second half.

In North One East, Pocklington lost 14-10 at Dinnington and remain eighth.