YORK RUFC picked up their first ever win in the North Premier as they clinically dispatched Sandal 52-20, writes Simon Pickles.

Despite losing former Munster and Leicester Tigers fly-half shortly before kick-off, York started strongly from the first whistle.

The York scrummage was hard to stop and they put heavy pressure on Sandal, forcing territory and possession in their favour.

In space, away from a set-piece, full-back George Davies linked with Sam Elliot on the wing and, despite a knock-on, York scored from the resulting scrum, Shane Goulding picking up the ball up from the base and crossing.

Sandal quickly replied as, after a spell with the ball, they won a penalty and kicked to York’s corner.

The hosts set up a driving maul and second-row Austen Thompson rumbled over the line.

York still retained much of the territorial advantage and possession throughout the first half.

After an attacking York driving maul stalled in the corner, Joe Maud carried powerfully into the Sandal line.

He committed defenders and stand-in fly-half Liam Hessay was able to slide through the remaining space to re-establish the lead.

It was Sandal ball that preceded York’s third try. Hessay intercepted a pass as the hosts opened up in attack and no-one could catch him as he run 60 metres under the posts, before converting his own try.

Sandal persevered and winger Olly Fisher scored in the corner to reduce the deficit with the conversion again missed.

York needed stout defence to hold Sandal out after the break as the gusting wind and home side's determination made clearances difficult.

Fly-half Luke Punton kicked a penalty to bring Sandal within a score of the lead.

York eventually got some counter-attacking possession. Scrum-half Toby Atkin made good ground before the ball was spread quickly to Elliot on the other side of the pitch.

In tight space, Elliot was able to avoid covering tackles and the sideline to score York’s bonus-point try in the corner.

The final 20 minutes of the game were an open affair. Maud carried forward in centre field and was tackled, but with no Sandal defenders to form a ruck, he was able to pick up the ball.

Maud regained his momentum and passed for the supporting Joe Simpson to score.

The hungry York forward pack were increasingly finding space in attack.

10 metres out, Simpson passed to Archie Fothergill who quickly moved on for prop forward Will Scholey to touch down.

Hessay added two points with a well-struck wide conversion.

Even with the defeat inevitable, Sandal never stopped competing.

With 10 minutes remaining, Jack Handley scored in the corner to give them hope of gaining a bonus point.

York were being ruthless though - George Davies slipped a nice pass to Atkin, who scored their seventh try.

Reliable centre Will Fordy scored in the final moments to close the game for York. Both tries were again converted.

The result sees York rise to sixth place on 21 points, six points adrift of the play-off places.

York return to Clifton Park at the weekend as they entertain fifth-placed Alnwick, who they are level on points with.

Meanwhile, in the Yorkshire One, Selby sit third in the table after securing back-to-back league wins.

Selby won 36-10 at home to second-from-bottom Bradford Salem, a result which leaves them five points below leaders Old Crossleyans.

Seventh-placed West Leeds are Selby's next opponents this weekend.

Elsewhere, Nestle Rowntree slipped in the race for promotion from the Yorkshire Four North/West after falling to a 57-7 rout away to Thirsk, who have won all five of their league matches to date.

The now-third-places Trees were up against it virtually from off as an early dropped ball allowed the speedy Thirsk backs a chance to put their side 7-0 up after just five minutes.

Rowntree tried to bludgeon their way to the line but far too often gave possession away which allowed Thirsk to score three more tries to lead 26-0 with half time looming.

Shortly before the break, Trees got back in the game when number eight Zak Hardy crashed through for a try which was converted by Ollie Neill.

The second half saw Nestle Rowntree playing much better than in the first 40 minutes, but a sin binning, several conceded penalties and more injury concerns saw Thirsk run away with the game, score five more tries to win by a half century of points.

York RI are just a point behind Nestle Rowntree as a result of their 17-7 home win against Halifax.

RI have the daunting task of trying to end Thirsk's 100 per cent winning record on Saturday.

Nestle Rowntree meanwhile head to bottom-of-the-table Knaresborough, who are yet to pick up a point this season after seven league matches.