YORKSHIRE One leaders York maintained their 100 per cent winning league record with a tough 23-19 victory at Old Crossleyans.

Playing into a stiff breeze, York got off to a good start with back-row men Ian Davies and Gareth Thomas making bursts down the middle before centre Sam Arkle broke through from 20 metres out only to be held inches short.

Crossleyans' former Morley fly-half Jamie Grayshon cleared the home line, but within minutes York were in the lead when Davies made headway for Arkle to take the ball on the burst and stride 40 metres to the line. Full-back Mike Ford converted.

York then conceded the first of far too many penalties and Grayshon reduced the deficit.

York's pack was combining well but it was clear they could not afford to concede possession to the Crox outsides, who threw the ball about with abandon and both wingers threatened the York line.

After half an hour York trailed 9-7 when Grayshon kicked an offside penalty and dropped a goal.

However, just before half time York regained the lead when Ford converted a penalty when the Crox forwards strayed offside.

Any hopes that York might have about benefiting from the slope and wind in the second half were rapidly displaced when the Halifax-based club's winger James Wain-wright picked up a clever chip in his own half and was only just held on the York line.

The Clifton Parkers cleared but Crox were back on the attack through flanker Manny Riaz before the ball was recycled to centre Paul Haigh to score.

Grayshon goaled to give his team a 16-10 lead.

A huge clearance kick by Mark Roberts set York up on their opponents' line. Simon Cavey came in off his right wing but was held in the centre and Roberts switched the play to the right where Davies powered over. Ford could not convert from wide out.

Grayshon missed a crucial penalty in front of the posts but he kept York on the defensive with expert distribution as York held on to a single point advantage.

Home full-back Chris Seymour made a bold run down the left before another Roberts kick got York to the Crox line and skipper Pete Curtis crowned a huge personal display by forcing himself over for an unconverted try.

Grayshon added another penalty in a tense finale and York were struggling in defence until they broke into their opponents' 22 and Ford kicked a penalty to enable York to hold out.

It is to York's credit that they have secured victory in tight encounters against increasingly strong opposition in their last three matches.

Fortune may have favoured them but they have shown resilience and determination and will need both those qualities next Saturday when Bridlington visit Clifton Park in what could well prove by Easter to be the title clincher.

Updated: 12:19 Monday, October 28, 2002