YORK RUFC beat Billingham 23-7 in a bruising home Powergen Durham and Northumberland division one fixture that turned nasty in the closing stages.

The Clifton Parkers were looking for a handsome victory to enhance their positive points differential and made a sparkling start.

But Billingham became increasingly physical as defeat loomed and the match became unpleasant at the end with the referee unwilling to intervene.

As Northern beat leaders Percy Park, and Durham City had a resounding win at Ryton, York's season is becoming increasingly statistical and their best hope for next season is a return to Yorkshire One.

They started by trying to spread the ball wide and within ten minutes had forced their opponents back into their 22. From a scrum ten metres out scrum half Nigel Durham fed Fijian right winger Billy Cankatabula who skipped inside his opposite number for an unconverted try.

But it did not turn in to a try fest. Although York were stronger in the tight, Billingham were no pushovers. They played a robust mobile game in the loose and had York penned on the defensive for long periods.

As the interval approached York got left winger Rob Kama away and he took the ball to the line where centre Nick Ventress burrowed over.

It took York until 15 minutes after the interval to produce a spectacular try which showed their potential but is becoming a once-in-a-match phenomenon. Tom Copeland came in to the line and this time Cankatabula took the ball and brushed the defence aside for York's third unconverted try.

Billingham hit back and flanker Chris Kawa-Kameni got his reward for a strong display when he touched down out wide and skipper Chris Ker converted.

It looked tight for York, but Copeland relieved the tension by slotting a penalty and, amid the closing disorder, York skipper Andy Kay picked up at the base of a scrum and ran 15 metres unopposed to the line to seal victory.

Updated: 11:01 Monday, April 04, 2005