YORK RUFC ended the season with a 66-27 victory against Heath but their promotion bid is over thanks to West Leeds's victory at North Ribblesdale.

Although Bridlington had wrapped up the Yorkshire One title several weeks ago, the fight for the play-off spot had gone all the way to the wire.

Third-placed York needed second place West Leeds to slip up in the final game and, with 40 minutes to play on Saturday, things were looking good.

York led Heath by six points and West Leeds were losing 16-9 at North Ribblesdale who were fighting to avoid the drop.

However, when the final whistle blew, York soon discovered that West Leeds had turned their game around and won 41-17 to secure a play-off date with South Shields Westoe of Durham/Northumberland Division One.

York had been under pressure at the start of the game but a turnover and a 50 metre break from Chris Peace relieved the pressure. From a line out, quick hands from the backs put Peace in for the opening try.

From the re-start, Heath took the game to York and a good move from the backs allowed Cartwright to score under the posts followed by the conversion.

But York were not behind for long and good work from the forwards allowed Liam Hessay to release the backs before Neil McClure finished the move and scored the conversion.

Heath continued to pressurise, however, it was also clear that the pace in the York side was always going be telling.

After a series of attacks broke down, York moved further ahead when Shane Goulding broke 40m up the wing and set up McClure for the try. A successful conversion made it 19-7 with 30 minutes gone. Although Heath replied with two penalties, York still led 19-13 at the interval.

Heath made a good start to the second half, however, and took the lead with a converted try.

But this prompted York to produce some of their best rugby of the season with forwards and backs combining well to score seven unanswered tries - six of which converted by McClure.

Toby Atkin scored from a line-out before Newitt and McClure combined to score in the corner.

A penalty was kicked to the corner and a set move by the forwards put Newitt in to score try number six.

Newitt then made a 60m break to score in the corner and, just minutes later, Atkin scored under the posts following a scrum on halfway.

Campbell Thomson broke up the centre and offloaded to McClure to score again.

With five minutes to play, Hessay gave a 'show and go' to break through from half way and set up Josh Parker to score under the posts.

To their credit, Heath came back at York and secured a final converted try.

Fly half McClure, one of York's most consistent performance this season, had scored 36 points in his final game before hanging up his boots.