YORK RUFC edged home at Middlesbrough as the Yorkshire One leaders won a thriller 20-19.

Ahead of the encounter in the north east, Chris Peace moved to scrum-half and Sam Potrykus took his place at inside-centre.

Middlesbrough began the game defending strongly but were soon penalised and Liam Hessay, the York fly-half, kicked the goal to give York an early lead.

The hosts were determined and reversed York attacking ball at a ruck. After direct and straight running from the their centres, Joe Secret and Peter Homan, the ball was recycled quickly and distributed to winger, Sean Maloney, who scored.

Andrew Baggett missed the conversion, but the ex-Blaydon fly-half atoned to kick a long penalty, extending Middlesbrough’s lead a few minutes later.

It was proving to be a competitive game with Matthew Todd, the Middlesbrough full-back, receiving a yellow card for a ruck infringement.

The home team’s defensive line continued to tackle well, John Dawes (at full-back) kicked accurately to gain field position but Baggett responded with a long kick of his own.

The home side forced the York scrum back and gained possession. After the ball was retained in midfield York were penalised and Baggett kicked the hosts into an 11-3 half-time lead.

Sustained Middlesbrough attacking possession at start of the second half was rewarded with a drop goal by that man Baggett to put his side 11 points ahead.

With York behind and half an hour remaining, the visiting scrum became more dominant and Peace took advantage of this to score the away side's first try of the game. Dawes converted and York were buoyant.

Joe Maud (flanker) returned the Middlesbrough restart powerfully and it took several men to stop him.

The hosts were penalised again and York’s advance continued. The away side had several scrums five metres from the Middlesbrough try-line. The scrum was reset more than once but Middlesbrough were determined against the experienced York pack.

The visitors were awarded a penalty, chose the scrum again, nudged forward and Shane Goulding picked up the ball from the back and bundled over the line. Dawes kicked the conversion to give York a precious three-point lead.

Maud again returned the restart strongly and Peace added another 30 metres, charging upfield.

Dawes kicked cross-field and York winger George Davies collected the ball. Middlesbrough were penalised and Dawes kicked the penalty to give York a six-point lead with ten minutes remaining.

Defending a lead, York now had a very different task and the game was becoming fractious.

Middlesbrough surged forward as Hessay showed good positional sense to make a cover tackle and also made an important clearance kick.

Chris Fox (second-row) picked up a yellow card as Middlesbrough pushed for the converted try that they needed.

The home side exerted sustained pressure on York and earned a try in the corner. Gareth Singleton (winger) and Dawes defended bravely but couldn’t stop the Middlesbrough winger, Ben Wood.

The difficult conversion – the game’s last play – would determine which team won.

However, Baggett was unlucky as the conversion slid wide and York won a tough match by a solitary point.