Will Forrest is hat-trick hero as Sandal RUFC continue their climb up table

The game was a rescheduled fixture from two weeks earlier which had been a victim of the icy weather and postponed, writes Justin English.

With the sun beating down this time but a biting wind, hosts York were looking to capitalise on recent good form and extend their run of victories while Sandal were also looking to make it a third win in succession and move to mid-table.

Sandal started well with good attacking play through the backs and good defence. Following fast ball from scrum-half George Hulme and calculated kicking from Hali Joannou, they went on attack as Forrest gathered the ball on the wing and despite having three players to beat, scored a well worked try to give his side an early lead.

Loose play from both Sandal and York resulted in an arm wrestle with neither team taking the initiative to grab control of the game for a spell.

A breakaway try from York saw them move into the lead and it needed great defence from Sandal to stopped the hosts from capitalising further.

The last seven minutes of the half saw Sandal hit a purple patch as Dec Thompson pick up from a line-out on the 22 and broke four tackles to score under the sticks and give Tom Hodson an easy conversion.

Hodson then turned try scorer with another well executed move and added his second conversion to give his side a worthy half-time lead of 19-7.

The second half saw York apply a lot of pressure to the Sandal try-line, but they were repelled by some good defence again.

But after Joannou was yellow carded York took full advantage to score two tries that swung the game back firmly in their favour.

However, Sandal showed what they are made of now as they quickly answered with two tries of their own with Forrest the scorer of both after being on the end of some great play to complete a fantastic hat-trick.

Great hands between the Sandal backs, particularly Cam Bainbridge, Hodson and Forrest, were the highlight of much of the play and Sandal should be pleased with a great team result and the move to mid-table.

They are now up to seventh and are 13 points clear of second from bottom York with both clubs having seven matches remaining.

This Saturday sees Sandal back at home when they host Alnwick and face a big test of their improvement against opponents currently in second spot.