YORK RUFC bounced back from their heavy defeat to Morley by winning 19-17 at Percy Park and ending the Tynesiders' long unbeaten home record.

Park lie in mid-table in North One East but had won seven and drawn one of their previous home games this term, with the share-all coming against leaders Scarborough.

They looked on course to win this one, too, after taking the lead with 15 minutes to go, but the Minster city side, despite picking up new injuries, hit back to take the spoils after an entertaining encounter.

York now sit fifth ahead of Saturday's home derby against Malton & Norton - the team who had ended their own unbeaten start to term back in September.

York again made several changes for their trip to North Shields-based Park, with 19-year-old Joe Simpson starting at seven.

They began with a strong breeze behind them but on the back foot, Park immediately building pressure with good ball retention. But the visitors' defence held firm and, when they got further upfield, they started to control the ball with good team play, eventually forcing a penalty on halfway.

Liam Hessay kicked for touch and gained an attacking lineout five metres out. Pressure eventually told when Shane Goulding picked up from the base of a scrum and burst over for the opening try which Jon Dawes converted.

York now enjoyed sustained ball and continually attacked the Park defence.

Will Scholey carried with intent and Rob Hodges continually came off his wing to run at a solid Park defence.

York’s forwards were showing far greater ball control than last week and, as a result, the backs were able to put some good moves together. On two occasions, Hodges was forced into touch just short of the line.

Percy Park finally forced their way up the pitch and it became York’s turn to defend, with Simpson taking the lead with some strong tackling.

However, just before half-time, York lost Simpson and Sam Forbes to injury, the latter with a compound fracture to a thumb - the team's 10th injury of the season requiring surgery.

With the last play of the half, a good move by the Park backs allowed dual-code winger Ali Blair - who plays rugby league for Betfred League One club Newcastle Thunder - to score in the corner, cutting the interval deficit to 7-5.

York began the second half camped in the Park half. A strong carry by Scholey and good ball presentation gave the backs quick ball. Hessay picked out Goulding running a great line to power in under the posts for his second try, Dawes converting for a 14-5 lead.

But Park pushed into the York half again and pressured the whitewash. A series of scrums on the five-metre line ended with a converted penalty try on the hour-mark.

Play settled in centre-field with both defences on top. But Blair showed great speed to burst through and score from 30 metres, putting his side 17-14 up with 15 minutes left.

York showed great attitude, though, and won possession from a good hanging restart.

Forwards and backs combined with Hodges again making the crucial break. The ball was quickly recycled by Toby Atkin to Hessay, who put Rich Downey in for the decisive score.

Dawes missed the difficult conversion but York now led 19-17 and saw out the final minutes.