YORK Rugby Union Club will be in good spirits for their opening league matches, despite scoring only a 20-14 victory over lower division outfit Keighley.

York's eagerly awaited first home game of the season was one in which, for all the home side's dominance, they never managed to put the game out of reach of a keen and committed Keighley.

York camped in the Keighley half for the first 26 minutes, during which time all they had to show was a penalty by Andy Brown.

Brown had been brought in as a late replacement for Cockcroft who failed a fitness test.

York were playing the better rugby but Keighley's spoiling tactics were unsettling the young home side.

Another Brown penalty added to their first half tally and York finished the opening 40 minutes very strongly.

The second half saw with York in total control and it was no surprise when, after a tremendous passage of play, York forced a five-metre scrum.

From this platform James Arkle dummied his way over the line for an excellent try under the posts which Brown converted.

By now the young York side was in full flow and a period of aggressive defence saw Keighley driven downfield and forced into conceding a penalty.

From the ensuing line-out York continued the driving play and, with Keighley in disarray, Dempsey drove over for a fine try which Brown converted.

Leading 20-0 with 20 minutes to go the foot came of the gas and it allowed Keighley to run the ball from within their own '22' metre area and score the best try of the match under the York posts.

York's play became progressively more ragged, though they were not helped by the loss of Proctor and Hawcutt to injury and Martin for tactical reasons.

Although both substitutes Kay and Smith played well, with only a seven-man pack for the last ten minutes, overall composure was lost.

However, York still stuck to the task and with five minutes to go drove hard into the Keighley '22' metre area.

But they lost possession, which was followed by a penalty and another breakaway brought a second Keighley try, which was converted to bring the score to 20-14.

Overall it was a handy first win and leaves York in good spirits for the return of league rugby next week.