YORK RUFC were unable to end Blackburn's unbeaten start to the North Premier season at home after falling to a 49-24 defeat, writes Huw Kane.

Heading into the match, the news o Storm Arwen may have left many supporters questioning the quality on show, but it quickly delivered in a game more closely contested than the scoreline suggested at Ramsgreave Drive.

The opening of the game saw both sides settling into their styles of play with probing attacks well met by good defence.

Blackburn were trying to create a mismatch using their towering forwards while York were moving the ball well between forwards and backs.

The deadlock was broken after just eight minutes by Blackburn.

A penalty took Blackburn into the corner for a line out 5m from the York line. A clean catch and drive created the platform for the hosts to roll down the left side and score in the corner.

Paddy Gaffey converted for a 7-0 lead.

Blackburn had the lion's share of territory and possession in the first half.

Jacob McHugh, Jamie Brookes and Scott Richardson were using their size and power to make good ground up the middle and Blackburn’s recycling of the ball was quick and enabled them to release their speedy backs against a defensive line that was still reorganising.

York by contrast were struggling to create quick ball. Their offensive effort was a bit static and the slow ball gave Blackburn plenty of time to organise.

Sam Taylor was always threatening with his pace down the left hand side, and faced with three defenders he chose to keep the attack alive by kicking into the middle of the field.

Unfortunately, York did not have enough players supporting the play.

Full-back Joshua Jarrold collected the ball on his 22 for Blackburn and made good ground in the counter-attack before releasing his wing Jake Foster, who eluded Sam Elliot’s tackle before offloading back inside to the supporting Jarrold who scored.

Blackburn quickly added another try following some relentless forward pressure.

York were not out of it and after moving the ball sharply, Taylor was once again on the attack.

His shimmy inside his opposite number resulted in a desperate trailing arm which caught Taylor high and left his marker sin-binned.

Strong driving by the York pack took them to the Blackburn 22 and allowed enough time for Declan Cusack to float a lovely pass out to Joe Maud in the wide centre channel.

His straight running held the space for Taylor to show his pace and cross just before half time. Cusack converted and York trailed 21-7 at the interval.

York started the second half with more pace and energy and were quickly pressurising the Blackburn line.

The York forwards were starting to have more effect and sustained pressure resulted in Maud using all his strength to reach and place the ball over the line while surrounded by opposition defenders.

There was no doubt in the referee’s mind about the try despite the pleas from the Blackburn side and York trailed by just one score.

Blackburn soon hit back with a sustained period of pressure of their own. The home side's hard running and quick recycling finished off by the pace and accuracy of their backs saw them take a commanding 42-14 lead with three tries all converted by Gaffey who was having an excellent day with the boot.

York were generally defending well against the onslaught but mistakes at this level seldom go unpunished by good sides.

Blackburn did not miss their chances when they were given them, in the form of missed first up tackles, not rolling away or inaccurate kicking.

York finished strongly however with tries from Joe Simpson and Taylor, both of which were unconverted.

At the death, a charge down and chase gave Blackburn a final score at the final whistle.

Elsewhere, Nestle Rowntree were nilled in a 26-0 defeat at home to Leeds Medics and Dentists in the Yorkshire Four North/West.

Unlike their opponents, Trees never got to grips with the awful weather conditions. Leeds went in front with a converted try on 22 minutes and added a penalty goal soon after.

Some further poor kicking allowed the Medics and Dentists to add 16 more points in the second half.

Meanwhile, Selby RUFC lost 32-19 to Dinnington in Yorkshire One.