YORK RUFC stepped up their promotion push with a third consecutive high-scoring win in Yorkshire One.

Struggling Acklam were hammered by 60 points at Clifton Park as York romped to a 68-8 victory and moved up to fourth in the table.

Lee Denham's side have now scored 154 points in their last three league games against Acklam, Yarnbury, and West Leeds.

They also bagged another 57 against Barnsley in the Yorkshire Shield.

York were always too much to handle for Acklam and a simple but effective opening try was finished off by Adam Penistone. George Davies converted from out wide to give York a 7-0 lead.

Within five minutes, Penistone had crossed the line again and Davies converted.

York’s defence was as strong as their attack and Acklam were given little opportunity to get into the game.

A third try followed when Goulding was sent away by Eric Hall. Davies completed a hat-trick of conversion to give York a 21-0 lead.

The home side had the upper hand in most departments and were intent on securing the win and bonus point as soon as possible.

Liam Hessay crossed the line for the fourth try of the game and, again, Davies added the extras.

Acklam finally threatened the scoreline. A catch and drive after a line-out took the visitors to within a metre of the try line. A second surge saw them over the line but the referee decided the ball had been held up and wiped out the try.

York missed a clutch of opportunities as halftime approached. Lewis Hannibal and hooker Jack Starkey continued to work well and kept the momentum going forward - even if the final execution was sometimes missing by the team.

The first half came to a slightly disappointing close as the usually reliable Chris Fox failed to hold on to a ball that would have seen him canter home.

York, playing down the slope in the second half, needed to regain control and prevent Acklam getting back into the match.

However, it didn’t start to plan as the visitors got the first points of the half, converting a penalty from 30 metres out to make it 28-3.

The home team found their edge on 45 minutes and started to do the basics well. Dominant at the scrum even though prop Dan Coe had gone off in the first half, York were able to control the pace of the re-starts.

Acklam tried using the boot to gain position but York fullback Davies matched his success from the kicking tea with an excellent 65 metre run in open play.

Beating five defenders, Davies glided to within 10 metres of the line before feeding Will Atkin to score the first try of the second period. Davies converted to take the score to 35-3.

York’s next score came via the forwards, set up from a 30 metre driving maul, and marshalled expertly by scrum half Toby Atkin.

The resulting penalty from Acklam infringements gave York the opportunity to set up another driving maul and, this time, Hannibal crashed over. This sixth try was left unconverted as Davies’ magic deserted him for the first time.

Toby Atkin scored as York’s superior fitness started to show. Marc Benson, Starkey and Hannibal all carried well to set up the scrum half’s score. Davies re-found his range to convert. 47-3.

Not to be outdone by the forwards, York’s backs also showed an ability to make good ground as Tom Newitt, now on the wing, made two strong runs down the right-hand flank. The second of these, after a strong charge by Goulding, resulted in a try. Davies added the extras.

With ten minutes to go, the pace and intensity of the game had dipped. York scored two more tries courtesy of captain Fox and Toby Atkin. Davies converted both to make it 68 – 3.

Acklam showed their fighting spirit and raised the biggest cheer of the afternoon when finally scoring a try near the end.