YORK RUFC suffered a reality check as Yorkshire One rivals Middlesbrough inflicted on them their first defeat in 17 games this season - a late penalty giving them a surprise 17-14 triumph at Clifton Park.

With second-placed Beverley winning their game against Moortown, York's defeat at the hands of the determined Teessiders has seen their lead at the top of the table cut - although they still remain 11 points clear as they head towards promotion to North One East.

The game opened with York talisman Chris Fox driving well into the opposition half from a loose kick-off, but the attack was eventually halted 10 yards from the goalline.

Middlesbrough began to probe, mixing the point of attack and breaking blind on one occasion, but were stopped by a desperate defence five yards from the line.

Despite a lineout infringement providing some relief to York's back line, they could not break the shackles of Boro's attack, and their defence was breached when number 10 Andrew Baggett skilfully cross-kicked for winger Rhys Kilbride to score in the corner and Baggett to convert.

From the restart, Boro scrum-half Conner Foley broke well, taking play back into the York 22, and he soon crossed following a series of driving plays, with Baggett again converting to cap a dominant opening 20 minutes.

A clearance from Liam Hessay allowed Fox to break for the hosts, and a penalty took play into the corner, but the maul made no progress as York found their attack successfully countered.

However, as the half came to a close, the Clifton Parkers' power and pressure - despite careless knock-ons providing respite for Boro - eventually resulted in an infringement in a near-static maul.

A quick tap penalty was taken by Toby Atkin, who touched down for Hessay to convert.

The hosts started the second period on the front foot, and forced a series of errors from Boro. York failed to find touch from one penalty, but recovered possession and forced another error.

After the ball had gotten lost in a maul, the push finally culminated in a succession of scrums from five yards out, and another infringement resulted in a yellow card which suddenly escalated to a penalty try - supposedly for dissent - to level matters on the scoreboard.

For the majority of the second half, York were encamped in Middlesbrough territory, but the lack of variation in their point of attack made the visiting defence's job easier.

Then, with five minutes to go, a York drive near the half-way line saw a crossing infringement, and the penalty took play into the hosts' 22. From the lineout, play was brought into the centre of the field and York were penalised for an infringement on the ground. Baggett made no mistake with the penalty.

York threw themselves at the visitors in the closing moments, but dropped passes again saw progress stall and penalties conceded.

Meanwhile, Selby remain in relegation danger after their game at Old Brodleians ended in a 48-12 defeat. With only two wins from 16 games, they are second bottom, only three points above Wheatley Hills.

York RI suffered their second Yorkshire Four defeat on the trot, losing 24-15 at Stanley Rodillians. RI are kept off the bottom of the table by Sheffield Oaks and Rossington Hornets, neither of whom have earned any points this season.