YORK Rugby Union Club first team scored their second away victory in a row, winning 20-5 at North Ribblesdale at Settle in Yorkshire Division One.

For the second week running York had to make wholesale changes in the back row due to illness and injury.

Second row Brad Macdonald called off just before kick-off with a chest infection, which resulted in Gareth Thomas moving up from blind-side wing forward and his place being filled by last year's skipper Jeremy Clutton.

With Ian Davies, making a return to first team football, replacing Andy Kay, who is awaiting an operation on his shoulder, and Jim Hawcutt replacing Stuart Davies at open-side, York took the pitch with a completely changed back-row.

York kicked off and immediately put North Ribblesdale under pressure. The visitors dominated the opening exchanges, good ball retention not allowing North Ribblesdale possession.

After seven minutes North Ribblesdale gave away a penalty for off-side, which Mike Ford kicked.

Scrum-half James Arkle kicked deep into Ribblesdale's '22' and followed up to tackle full-back Evans into touch. From the line-out York's pack drove over the line only to be held up.

They took the resulting scrum and worked a slick move, but dropped what would have been a try-scoring pass ten metres out.

York took the scrum against the head and Ian Davies used his power to drive into Ribblesdale's defence before slipping the ball to Arkle, who scored wide out. Ford goaled to make it 10-0.

Just before half-time a long Mark Roberts' kick took play into Ribblesdale's '22' where Pete Curtis stole the line-out.

Quick hands in the York backs saw left wing Simon Cavey make a dart for the line. He was stopped short, but the recycled ball allowed Sean Bass to score under the posts unopposed. Ford's conversion made it 17- 0.

After half time York lost some cohesion. Their tackling led to Ribblesdale turning over a lot of ball, but York also started making handling errors which resulted in a midfield stalemate.

On 80 minutes Ribblesdale were penalised for a late tackle on Roberts and the penalty took play into Ribblesdale's '22', from where York mounted a series of attacks that resulted in a penalty for off-side that Ford goaled to make it 20-0.

Ribblesdale finished strongly, scoring an unconverted try through centre Jonathan Richards.

In the two games so far this season the tactical kicking of Roberts and Ford's goal kicking have been outstanding.

Updated: 12:06 Monday, September 16, 2002