YORK RUFC kicked off life in North One East with a brilliant 23-22 triumph at least season’s runners-up Driffield.

Ross White and Liam Hessay both scored tries against May’s beaten play-off finalists, while the reliable Jon Dawes converted both efforts and kicked three vital penalties for the visitors.

Fresh from their 2018 Yorkshire One title-winning campaign, York fielded a familiar line-up with Shane Goulding playing at six, Josh Parker at seven and Joe Maud at the base of the scrum to make a powerful back-row.

After missing the majority of last season with an injury, White also returned as hooker and will captain the team during 2018/19.

Hessay, meanwhile, played at fly-half while full-back Dawes is still on goal-kicking duties.

It was Driffield, though, who scored the first points of the game when a sustained attack through phase ball was only punctuated by a Luke Stockton line-out steal and York were penalised, as home scrum-half James Watts kicked the goal.

York returned fire and Driffield did well to haul down rangy-runner Dawes in full flight.

The visitors recycled possession, though, earning a penalty which Dawes kicked successfully.

White scored next for York after an impressive driving maul.

The conversion was subsequently added and the Clifton Park outfit were playing very well, with their line-out accurate and organisation precise.

Driffield responded with attacking structure and nearly scored in the corner before York were penalised at the scrum.

A quick tap penalty then saw the ball fed to winger Rob Murray, who scored in the corner, but the conversion was missed.

Next, Hessay found a gap in the Driffield defence 30 metres out and glided under the posts, with the additional two points from Dawes giving York a 17-7 advantage going into the interval.

It was still an even game, however, with the line-outs competitive and securing contested ball involved everyone.

Centre Sam Forbes and wing Gareth Singleton did this notably for York, as did second-row Chris Fox and Maud.

Hessay and Dawes were also kicking out of hand in a timely manner to prevent Driffield from advancing.

Soon into the restart, Dawes added a penalty before Alex Piercey scored for Driffield after an offload in the tackle and the conversion tightened the score.

York continued to play with commitment and Parker secured the ball to allow Maud to gain territory and a York scrum.

Dawes kicked another penalty to regain a two-score lead, which would ultimately prove decisive.

Both teams were using the hard ground to kick effectively for territory but, with 15 minutes remaining, York were exerting control of the game.

Driffield missed a long-range penalty and York displayed energy, composure and hard work.

Outside-centre Gary Stevenson went on to score on a supporting line for Driffield at the death, but only after replacement York wing Harry Taylor had sprinted a full 60 metres to make the initial tackle and it proved too little, too late for the East Yorkshire hopefuls with the final whistle blown immediately after the conversion.

This weekend, York host a Consett team, who suffered a narrow 36-34 defeat to West Leeds on Saturday.