YORK RUFC kept the pressure on Yorkshire One play-off rivals West Leeds with a 65-14 bonus point win over Keighley.

With near perfect conditions, York started the more positive, scoring through Josh Parker in the opening minutes. Neil McClure added the extras.

Keighley drew level on 20 minutes after York gave away possession near the halfway line and the visitor’s fullback skipped through to score.

York re-gained the lead straight from the kick-off with an excellent kick-chase and aerial win by winger Hugh Nicholson. The ball moved through hands to Will Scholey who showed his pace to score. McClure started a run of near misses with the boot as his conversion went wide.

Half way to the bonus point, York applied heavy pressure and Parker bagged his second try of the game before Benson added the team’s fourth.

The home side had the advantage in the scrum and were driving Keighley back with ease. But York were also repeatedly guilty of not protecting the ball in contact and allowing Keighley to strip possession.

Keighley turned the ball over from York in their own half and formed a maul. Shane Goulding blocked the first real drive but Keighley were able to barge their way over via the number 8. The extras were added. Half-time 22-14.

The second half was one way traffic as York piled on 43 unanswered points including seven tries. As Keighley tired and became more frustrated, the pace of York’s backs began to prove the difference. Goulding scored after a mis-judged back hand pass gave the ball to Tom Newitt who made good ground before Gareth Singleton drew defenders.

Goulding, supporting well at the breakdown, was on hand to crash over. McClure re-discovered his range to add the extras.

The next try, and possibly the most impressive of the game, came straight from the kick-off as replacement winger Will Dunlop caught the ball and showed lightning pace to beat several defenders before feeding Tom Newitt and McClure to score.

Parker collected another brace of tries, the first from close work on the far right of the field and the second after an excellent break by Campbell Thomson. McClure converted the second of the scores to move York 32 points ahead.

Captain Chris Fox scored the fifth try of the half which was duly converted.

Dunlop finished a good team play for try six and Newitt scored the final try when a quick chip over the defence allowed him to control and dab down his own kick. McClure added the conversion and extending his own points tally to 15.

Although third placed York collected a bonus point, their efforts were matched by second placed West Leeds who won 50-10 against Bradford Salem.

With three games to go, West Leeds still hold a five point advantage in the battle for second spot.