YORK Under-17s Colts continue to fly the flag for the club and the city after reaching the national final of the Rugby Football Union Colts Cup.

They will meet Worthing in the final on May 1 at Sale Sharks' AJ Bell Stadium.

Following a quarter-final win over Wharfedale, York travelled to Billesley Common – home of Championship Club Moseley – to play the semi-final tie against Midlands Champions Olney.

York started brightly, securing strong possession for the first ten minutes and coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions only to be denied by good defence or an unlucky bounce.

Olney rallied and took control for the next ten minutes, and York were under pressure, but resolute defence prevented the quicker Olney backline from breaking through.

In a see-saw contest, York worked their way into the opponents' half and put the first score on the board with a penalty in front of the posts. Minutes later, a double missed pass in the midfield put Sam Williams over in the corner.

The first inkling that it might be York’s day came when Sam Elliot took the conversion from the touchline into a freshening breeze and managed to land it on the crossbar before it bounced over for a 10-0 half time lead.

The second half could not have started any better, with the forwards dominating the breakdown, and Harry Butler, Grayson McGuire and James Guyer carrying hard into contact to repeatedly break the gain line.

Following a Joe Simpson turnover, Tom Woffendin seized on a chance down the blindside, beating two defenders and touching down for a 15-0 lead.

Olney continued to try and break down the York defence without success, and two transgressions by them allowed Sam Elliot to score two more penalties and give York a commanding 21-0 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

York's coaches used the entire seven-man bench and these fresh players maintained the pressure on the opposition, although Olney did score a consolation try with a minute left.