A well-drilled Moortown defeated York RI 32-20 in Yorkshire Three, but the New Lane club can feel pleased with the performances of their younger players.

Playing with the breeze in the first half RI fell behind to a try by centre Simon Pogson.

Forward drives by Danny Wright, in only his second game of senior rugby, and Mike Duggan took RI deep into rival territory for Nick Humphries to drop a goal.

On the half hour Moortown's Nathan Preston scored twice in five minutes from breaks from the base of the scrum.

Stout defence and good tactical kicking by Grice and Humphries kept Moortown at bay. RI reduced the arrears when Tom Heslop moved the home side into Moortown's 22 and the ball was moved to Humphries, who dummied both opposing centres to score.

Moortown were penalised for offside, Humphries kicked for the corner and from the line-out Andy Morse barged over.

Moortown stretched their lead to 20-13 within four minutes of the restart with a Minns try before Preston completed his hat-trick.

At 25-13 down RI started to play some of their best rugby, with Mallon and Jon Alexander driving the pack forward.

A 30-yard break by Alexander resulted in a penalty try when he was high tackled over the line. Humphries converted to leave RI only five points adrift. But in the final ten minutes an Andy Stevens' try, converted by Andy Eastham, made the game safe for Moortown.

Updated: 12:34 Monday, September 13, 2004