IN-FORM York RUFC stepped up their surge through the Yorkshire One ranks with a 20-16 victory over Sheffield.

The home win moved the Clifton Park side above their Steel City foes and into the top half of the table as they recover from an indifferent first half of the campaign.

Outside centre Sam Potrykus made an excellent start to his York career in place of absent Sam Arkle.

Fly-half Craig Ventress also played with a lot of confidence and poise, passing well on either side as he got his back line moving. Two Paul Williams penalties ensured York got off to a good start and they then scored a superbly worked try straight from the training paddock.

Ventress slid the ball behind the rushing Sheffield defence and Potrykus won the foot race to score under the posts and Williams converted.

York developed a stronghold on the game, as second-rowers Matt Halifax and Chris Fox won the line out ball, and the York front row got a grip in the scrum.

York looked good value for their lead, which they extended when Jim Rossington charged up the middle, supported by Jon Sharpe and Graeme Smith.

Scrum-half Smith fed Rob Kama on the left and the wingman needed no second invitation, and again William converted.

Sheffield responded as they had done the previous week against Malton and three penalties decreased the York lead.

York’s frustration grew as Sharpe was yellow-carded for slowing the ball down. Sheffield got a well deserved converted try when their pack carried the ball over the line.

With the lead down to four points Sheffield pounded the York line, but sloppy finishing and dropped ball meant the day went to York.

Malton & Norton were unable to follow up their win over Sheffield as they went down 22-11 at Heath.

The Ryedale side lost the reverse fixture by 50 points at The Gannock, but this time they showed the strides they have made.

The first attack of the game almost produced a Malt try but winger Steve Scholes was forced into touch short of the line after excellent work from Ian Cooke. Heath cleared their lines and quickly went in front with a penalty.

The hosts then capitalised on a scrum five metres out from the Malton line to score a try and they added a second try, which was converted for a 15-0 half-time lead.

In the opening minute of the second half, Malton struck back. Centre Nathan Reid was halted by a high tackle and Cooke converted the penalty. Heath responded with another converted try, but Malton refused to throw the towel in.

From a free-kick 20 metres out scrum-half Elliot Richardson dummied infield before passing to winger James Dempsey, who crossed in the corner. Heath were then caught offside 40 metres out and Cooke stepped up to send the ball between the posts to narrow the gap further.

With a quarter of the game still to go hopes of victory were rising, but Heath kept them at bay.

Selby were held to a 13-13 draw away to Skipton.

In Yorkshire Two, Pocklington’s clash with Ripon was postponed.

York RI were beaten 37-16 at home by leaders Old Rishworthian in Yorkshire Four.

Rishworthians scored an early converted try, but RI full-back Shane O’Neill reduced the arrears with a penalty.

A penalty apiece made it 10-6, but two quick tries handed the visitors a 22-6 half-time lead.

Prop Andy McCarthy powered over for an RI try, but Rishworthians bagged an interception score.

Dan Taylor broke two tackles to score in the corner and reduce the lead to 27-16, but they conceded two late tries.