The 27-7 scoreline flattered the visitors from England's most northerly rugby club.

Two tries 15 and 16 minutes into the second half by Alnwick killed York stone dead, although the corpse stayed lively up to the final whistle.

Both sides started nervously but it was soon clear that York were having yet another bad day in front row.

Possession from the set pieces was a problem all match and for a while the one bright light in the forward gloom was Bevan, who was head and shoulders above the other forwards.

Alnwick's tactics soon became evident as several penalty chances at goal were spurned for good line-out positions, where their ball-winning was almost total.

After eight minutes following a lineout and a scrum near York's line, Alnwick got the drive on first and walked York back off their ball for Dixon to crash over to score.

Two minutes later from a ruck 30 yards out Randerson spun the ball out to Brown, who ran right, checked and switched the ball left.

Davies pouched the ball, put his head down and bullodozed into Alnwick's defensive wall. On being checked, he somehow found York centre Roberts, who squeezed through a tiny gap then took the full back's tackle before slipping to fellow law student Nick Pawson who carved in for a splendid York riposte.

Brown added the extra points and York were ahead. It heralded a period of excellent York back-based play.

Allerton collected a high ball and raced out of defence. Still making ground he fed Spanton, who chipped the covering line up and finding a terrific 30 yard touch.

Alnwick regained the lead when scrum-half Simon Manners put over a penalty in the 29th minute.

After 35 minutes a forward pass of several feet was seen by everyone except the official, and Alnwick's full back Jo Havery used the overlap to race in wide out. Manners converting, leaving York 15-7 down.

In the second half Alnwick heeled ball after ball from both heads of the scrum and only huge tackles by Charlie Kama and Mark Roberts in the threes and Jim Hawcutt and Stuart Scott in York's forwards kept the Northumbrians out.

Dempsey suffered a neck injured 12 minutes into the half and was replaced by Andy Wyatt.

He soon claimed a terrific line out ball for York but an extraordinary fly hack by Alnwick's openside flanker saw the ball evade everyone for the 50 yard down-field clearance.

Bass then raced 45 yards down his wing and only a brilliant tackle by the full back prevented a try.

But in the 15th minute of the second half, with Roberts off receiving attention from the physio, Alnwick's left wingman Alastair Wilson raced through the middle and scored a try.

Less than a minute later centre Trevor Kirkup knifed through to outpace York's defence to set the seal on Alnwick's victory.

'JP' Laycock came on for the injured Randerson. Nick Pawson's knee left him on crutches after the match, and Smith replaced Humphries.

Pock go down but match leaders

Pocklington matched unbeaten North East Two leaders Darlington every step of the way at Percy Road but they lost 13-5 despite doing far more of the attacking.

Darlington had the better of the first quarter on an hour and opened the scoring with a fourth minute try, which they converted from the touchline, and created a couple more chances with some high speed play.

After this Pocklington took over and pounded at the Darlington line to create a string of close calls.

Lock Simon Lewis was held up in goal, half a dozen other forwards were stopped just short, and Pocklington were unlucky when they twice went for a push over try from five yard scrums, Darlington getting away with collapsing on both occasions.

A rare Darlington visit into the home half saw them kick a long penalty to increase their lead, but Pocklington were soon attacking again.

They closed the gap 10 minutes into the second half, when they drove a tap penalty and prop Mark Floyd dived over in the corner.

Pocklington remained camped in Darlington territory and continued to run penalties rather than kick for goal.

Darlington took their more limited opportunities and kicked another long penalty, but Pocklington created five clear chances in the last quarter.

Skipper Darren Smith and scrum half Chris Watkins both made clear breaks but the support failed to finish. Wing Ben Connolly was tackled into the corner flag.

They failed to touch down after another strong push over drive and then again got to the Darlington line, only to be penalised for complaining about Darlington's persistent killing of the ball.

Darlington held out and wrapped up another victory in their championship season.

RI promoted

York RI are being matched stride for stride in their exciting run-in to the end of the Thwaites Yorkshire League Three season as second-placed Baildon kept up the pressure on the New Lane side with a 31-10 victory over visitors Wetherby.

But with the title still up for grabs RI made sure of promotion when they beat Skipton 20-5.

There were tries by full back Tim Nash and centre Dave Reed. Phil Ambler converted both tires and kicked two penalties. Skipton replied with an unconverted try by former Northallerton winger Mike Beech.

Harrogate face Morley battle

Harrogate are locked in a fierce scrap with Morley in the closing stages of the rugby union season to avoid relegation from Jewson's National League division one.

Harrogate squandered a 17-7 half-time lead against the previous league leaders Henley at Claro Road on Saturday and lost 31-17 while Morley beat Liverpool St Helens 42-10.

Tries by centre threequarter Kerry Morley and hooker Ian Salkeld, both converted by Lee Cholewa, gave Harrogate a distinct advantage. Cholewa also adding a penalty goal.

But Henley took control in the second half as winger Peter Davies scored a hat-trick of tries, with others scored by Trevor Walsh and Janik Hendrik. Duncan Roke kicked three conversions.

North division one strugglers, Bridlington were still in the hunt when only 20-10 down at Tynedale, but the visitors conceded seven tries in a second half landslide as Tynedale won 63-20.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.