York entertained Percy Park following an encouraging start to the season. Percy Park had won two and lost one to Morpeth who were at the top of the table - a tough game was expected. York made 5 injury enforced changes from the Morley game with Dave Rhodes, Lewis Hannibal, Ryan Gallacher, Jon Dawes and Chris Peace coming into the side. The team were further disrupted by Chris Peace pulling up injured in the warm up.

The opening few minutes saw possession swop sides on numerous occasions and a number of penalties. York struck first with Dawes dispatching a straight forward penalty quickly followed up with a similar effort from Grove for Park. The game now started to settle down and it was Park enjoying possession and starting to put York under pressure. On 16 mins Park spread the ball wide with a simple passing move from a scrum to score in the corner, conversion missed 3-8. From the re-start, the industrious Campbell Thomson regained possession and York were finally on the front foot. Liam Hessay and Ross White combined to release Gallacher who made an excellent 40m break before offloading to Toby Atkin who scored under the posts with Dawes adding the conversion. 10-8 after 26 Mins. York were now enjoying more possession and putting Park under pressure until a loose pass was intercepted by Park. A try looked inevitable but for a great covering tackle stopping the Park player 5m short.

Just as York were finding some rhythm, they suffered another injury with Jon Dawes leaving the field with a leg injury. With no backs sub on the bench, number 8 Shane Goulding moved to inside centre and Dave Rhodes came into the second row. York finished the half strongly, punching holes through the Park defence and eventually forcing a penalty which Hessay slotted for a 13-8 half time lead.

York started the second half well and on 42 mins Toby Atkin scored a superb try. Picking the ball up in a congested area, he managed to jink his way through from 35m to score under the posts, Hessay added the conversion to move York 20-8 in front.
York were now enjoying their best period of the game looking for another try. A succession of attacking scrums led to a penalty which Hessay dispatched from 35m for a 23-8 lead. Percy Park were not finished though and came straight back at York putting the home side under sustained pressure resulting in a try wide on the right wing; with the conversion missed, York were 23-13 up.
Park were now dominating possession. York defended well but eventually possession told and Park scored, with the conversion missed. York with a depleted back line were trying to gain territory with a succession of kicks down field, however Park have an excellent back 3 and York were having to work hard to contain them.

On 73mins York won a scrum against the head, Hannibal broke from the scrum and released Gareth Singleton who finished strongly in the corner from 35m. Hessay added an excellent touch line conversion to take York into a 30-18 lead with 5 mins remaining. Percy Park did not give up and with the final play of the game scored under the posts to gain two well deserved losing bonus points.

The result sent York to the top of the table before next week’s local derby at Malton & Norton.