Yorkshire Division One: Bridlington 21 York 8

YORK, beaten 20-17 at Scarborough last month, made their second trip to the seaside this season, and lost again.

However, fielding the 34th and 35th players to wear a first-team shirt this season, York were always likely to come off second best at the unbeaten leaders, and will need a more settled side and greater on-field commitment from the players if they are to make more of an impact.

Bridlington had first use of the wind and quickly led 3-0 on the back of a break by their fly half Matiu Welch, which led to a penalty that was converted.

York were then awarded a penalty of their own after several passages of play, but fly half Neil McClure's attempt drifted wide.

The visitors then had ten minutes in the home half, but Bridlington's defence held firm before Dan Coe replaced the injured Will Norris for York at loose-head prop.

George Davies made several good breaks in the centre for York, only to be thwarted, while winger Will Dunlop made decent ground in their next attack, only to be injured and replaced by Matt Hargreaves.

York did score via a McClure penalty after 30 minutes, Bridlington being pinged for handling in the ruck, but when they threw a miss pass in an attempt to score, it was intercepted by Welch, who ran 55 yards to score in the corner.

A simple penalty extended Bridlington's lead to 11-3 at half-time, a well-worked line-out move bringing them a second try early in the second half.

Adam Bowers replaced Lewis Hannibal at open-side flanker for York but it wasn't until the 60th minute that they found themselves in Bridlington's 22, debutant winger Adam Penistone scoring wide out.

York, albeit briefly, seemed in the ascendancy but a penalty for a late tackle on Welch allowed Bridlington to again bring play into York's 22, and they scored a try wide out to complete the scoring.

Penistone had a solid game in defence and with ball in hand, while Davies, normally a full back but in an unaccustomed position of centre, looked dangerous all afternoon.

No 8 Dawes, usually an open-side flanker, also had a good game, while McClure tackled his heart out.

On Saturday, York, who will have player returning, are at second-placed West Leeds.