YORK RUFC continued their promising start to life in North One East on Saturday with a 36-19 win at Morley.

The Clifton Park outfit have now won three from three and sit second in the table on points difference alone.

Emerson Bessell was making his debut for York at 12, outside of the reliable Liam Hessay at fly-half. In the forwards, Dan Coe started as prop forward and Campbell Thomson played at seven.

It was a physical start to the game and both teams had opportunities to use the wide pitch to attack while the defences were sound and Liam Hessay displayed good decision making for York.

Flanker Shane Goulding got the first score of the afternoon after making a break in midfield. He was supported well by Campbell Thomson, who returned the ball for him to cross and Hessay kicked the conversion.

Joe Maud carried well, always making metres while George Davies was showing composure at full-back.

And York extended their lead when a Morley clearance kick landed in the arms of winger Gareth Singleton who powered 25 metres to score in the corner. The conversion bounced out off a post.

The York back row were showing mobility, power and experience, but suffered a blow when Maud was injured. As the visitors restructured, Thomas Isherwood found some space for Morley and scored in the corner, but missed his own conversion.

York replied quickly though as a scrum 30 metres from the Morley line was distributed to George Davies who passed to Gareth Singleton at pace. He strode home again and Hessay added an excellent conversion.

But York’s back row were to be further depleted as Josh Parker suffered an injury just before half-time, before Morley winger Johnny Graham compounded matters by bringing Morley right back in to the game with a scored from a nice pass from Andy Ellis. The conversion this time was accurate and reduced York’s half-time lead to seven points.

York still looked dangerous when they attacked with Davies creating opportunities for Singleton and Rob Hodges on the other wing, but a run of penalties saw Morley threaten.

Two decisive moments followed for Liam Hessay, who first gained 40 metres for the visitors with a superb kick after York spoiled an attacking Morley line-out before he made an interception to run 75 metres and score without being touched. He added the conversion to make it a convincing lead.

Outside centre Harrison Bayliss got Morley on the scoreboard again, charging down a York clearance, and the conversion was added to reduce York’s lead to a single score.

Morley were trying to play, but York appeared the more accurate, and Shane Goulding effectively sealed the game 10 minutes from time when he broke a tackle on the blind side of a scrum and ran in from his own half.

The conversion was missed, but it mattered not to York, whose second-rower Luke Stockton put the icing on the cake after the York pack mauled forward 30 metres to score.

Next Saturday, York host fifth-placed Percy Park, whose sole defeat so far came against early table-toppers Morpeth.

In Yorkshire One, Selby posted their first win with a 15-11 home victory over Bradford Salem. Next week, the Swans visit Dinnington, who have started term with one win and two defeats, most recently going down 52-14 at Middlesbrough.

Yorkshire Four newcomers Nestle Rowntree will be looking for their first league points when they travel to table-toppers Ossett, while York RI visit Mosborough.