YORK Rugby Union Club were just squeezed out of the frame by visiting Cleckheaton in a tense tussle between the two top sides in the Under-17 Yorkshire League.

Both teams went into the fixture unbeaten so far this season, so something had to give. But the clash proved to be a tale of turn-around with York's 10-0 half-time lead overhauled in the second half by 12 unanswered points from Cleckheaton.

York countered Cleckheaton's 'pick and drive' tactics by spinning the ball wide to their pacy three-quarter line but the deadlock was not broken midway through the first half after Cleckheaton infringed at a ruck and Nathan Forrest slotted over a pentlay.

Home enterprise paid off when the ball was passed through hands to Dan Simpson who cruised through to score under the posts, Forrest adding the extras.

Turning around at 10-0, York knew that they had to be on their mettle to defend their lead against a determined Cleckheaton side now playing with the slight slope of the pitch and the benefit of the wind.

The visitors pulled back an unconverted try which raised the tension even more. The match unfortunately boiled over into an undignified brawl which saw Forrest dismissed for needless aggression and both skippers were sin-binned.

Cleckheaton took full advantage of the extra man and the loss of Woolley's presence in the ruck and maul by driving York over the line for an equalising try. This was converted to edge the visitors two points ahead.

York's final opportunity came with seconds left on the clock. A penalty just over the halfway line was adjudged too far out with place kicker Forrest taking an early bath, so York had to kick for position before time was called.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, December 02, 2004