YORK are early leaders of the North One East table after beating fellow newly-promoted outfit Consett 44-18 in their first home game of the season.

Gareth Singleton (2), Chris Fox, Toby Atkin, skipper Ross White and Shane Goulding all grabbed tries, with Liam Hessay converting four and kicking a couple of penalties as the Clifton Park club made it two wins from two at the elevated level of the game.

Wearing a kit that included purple socks in support of the Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Three Bears Foundation, York claimed the afternoon’s first points when Hessay punished the visitors for an offside infringement.

The restart kick failed to make the necessary ten metres and, from the resultant scrum, York’s number-nine Atkin broke well before feeding White, who found lock-forward Fox to touch down for a fine try.

Hessay’s conversion attempt slid just wide.

The restart kick was then well taken by Joe Maud but Hessay was deemed to be outside his 22.

Consett, however, were falling foul of the referee and, after only 15 minutes, lost their full back as result of continued infringements.

Despite their extra man, York were then penalised for an infringement on the ground which saw number-ten Alex Paulus contribute three points.

A good strike against the head subsequently saw the hosts pack back-pedal and concede a penalty, which was again converted by Paulus.

Spurred into action, White burst forward with Sam Forbes in full support, but the final pass went to ground.

Hessay went on to convert, though, when the County Durham team were penalised again.

From the restart, Fox once more secured the ball and, with some enterprising play, sent winger Rob Hodges away only to be stopped in his tracks by number-15 Nick Cook.

Singleton was not to be denied moments later to send the home side into half-time 16-6 up after he received a perfect pass from the ever-supportive Fox wide out.

After the break, a Consett knock-on saw Singleton add a second try, when he crashed over in the corner after the ball had been moved well from the scrum and an excellent Hessay conversion followed.

The away team crossed the line themselves, in response, opting for the scrummage from an offside infringement, allowing number-nine Joe Trott to scuttle over with Paulus converting.

Consett then made a dreadful hash of collecting the restart and a scrum ensued.

Goulding consequently picked up and fed scrum-half Atkin who raced up the blind side for York’s fourth bonus-point try, which Hessay converted.

Hessay’s long kicks were putting almost continuous pressure on a tiring Consett defence and, eventually, the pressure told with a searing break by Forbes finally seeing Goulding crash over for another converted try.

Against the run of play, a York clearing kick went on to be charged down and Paulus followed up to touch down in the corner.

The conversion attempt was unsuccesful and, as the game entered its final stages, York returned to the attack with Neil McClure prominent, as he had been all afternoon, only to see his scoring pass spurned.

Forbes also embarked on yet another driving run only to see a further knock on by his support, before White led by example to add a final, converted try.

York now take their 100 per cent record to Morley this weekend.

In Yorkshire One, Selby lost 32-5 to Heath and lie third-bottom as they search for their first league win of the campaign. They host Bradford Salem on Saturday.