After finishing third last season, West Leeds have struggled a bit more this time around in North One East; before kick-off they were one off the bottom of the league and were yet to win at home. York needed a win to keep up with the teams around them at the other end of the table.

The West Leeds pitch is tight, surrounded by houses and as the match started it was muddy in areas and playing slow. West Leeds took an early two try lead. Captain, Sam Neave sniped through the middle of a ruck to open the scoring. From the re-start, West Leeds made their way down the field quickly and Simon Mitchell stretched out to score. The West Leeds forward pack secured the ball to allow runners around them to make ground. One conversion was good, not the other, West Leeds twelve points up. York put the home team under pressure for the next ten minutes. Dec Penny, the West Leeds flanker, got a yellow card after consecutive team penalties. West Leeds had been defending well but York chose a scrum option following the penalty – Shane Goulding broke from the scrum and linked with Toby Atkin to score the try which got York back into the game. West Leeds had been reduced to fourteen players and tried to hold York out. With Steve Johnson and Dan Coe in the front-row, the York scrum was excellent. Campbell Thomson exploited the numbers and energy committed to defending against the York scrum and scored York’s second try. Jon Dawes was successful with this conversion after missing the previous one. There were more penalties that went in York’s favour; this saw the ball spread wide and winger Harry Jinks, scored in the corner to put York ahead. In the last play before half-time, York were penalised for backchat and the West Leeds fly-half, Campbell Breakwell, took the opportunity to narrow the scores. He kicked the penalty to give a half-time score of West Leeds 15 York 17.

West Leeds earned a penalty to re-take the lead after they advanced following a midfield turnover. Campbell Breakwell kicked it and the game was in the balance with plenty of time left. York camped in the West Leeds twenty-two again and this time replacement prop Ste Anderson got a yellow card to put the home team down to fourteen men again. Shane Goulding then received the ball in the back-line, beat the first up defence and the cover couldn’t stop him from scoring under the posts. It was York’s bonus point try and Jon Daweskicked the conversion. West Leeds shot back in front though when they were awarded a penalty and Campbell Breakwell took a quick-tap to exploit the disorganisation and went over. As one West Leeds player returned to the field after a sin-bin, another went off. Dec Penny got his second yellow card - two yellows equal a red - and he was off for the remaining fifteen minutes. Jon Dawes attempted to kick the resulting penalty but his strike was wide. Campbell Breakwell then kicked a penalty for fourteen man West Leeds to make the score 28-24. With not a lot of time remaining, Jon Dawes scored for York. He was in plenty of space and the ball was shipped to him to score the try. Though he missed the conversion, York were one point ahead with one minute remaining. The West Leeds full-back, Jack Marshall, showed a great turn of speed and broke through the York defence to win the game in the last play. The conversion was good giving a final score of West Leeds 35 York 29.