IF rugby matches consisted of second halves only, then YMCA would find victories easier to come by and their supporters would not have nerves shredded on a weekly basis.

For the second successive match, YM gifted the opposition a clear start – this time to the tune of 15 points – before they finally ‘got off the bus’ and began to perform, eventually running out 36-20 Yorkshire I winners at Redcar.

Like the YM, Redcar are struggling to find consistency this season, but they soon had the visitors on the ropes when the ball fell to centre Nick Pope, who seemed to have all the time in the world as he ambled through YM’s non-existent defence.

And after eight minutes, things went from bad to worse as Redcar hacked on a loose ball and it was chased down by winger Brad Stovell for a second try, wide out on the left.

Stand-off McMahon, who had converted the opening score, found this one too difficult, but the 12-0 scoreline soon became 15 when full-back Ritchie Young added a penalty.

Finally YM woke up and began to dictate territory and possession, and they broke their duck on the half-hour when the forwards drove towards Redcar’s line and, from the scrum, Neil Walker picked up, drew the covering tacklers and slipped the ball to scrum half Ben Wolfe who, in turn, fed young winger Adam Ryder to score wide out.

Within five minutes Simon Whitehead forced his way over for the second score and Gavin Stead, who missed the first conversion, made no mistake from the touchline to put his side back in the game at 15-12 down at the break.

Like the previous week, YM looked a completely different team in the second half as they sprayed the ball about in the backs, while there were great contributions from the forwards, particularly Brad Dobson, who was returning to his hometown club, efficient hooker Andy Joblin and young South African prop Jan van Niekirk.

Redcar held firm in the first 15 minutes, but YM got their noses in front on 58 when Simon Wilson drew the cover before giving an inside pass to David Rees who scuttled round the remainder of Redcar’s tattered defence to go behind the posts.

Stead added the extras, and also tacked on the conversion to the next score from flanker Steve Anderson, who dashed 40 yards to the line.

Redcar winger Stovell scored a consolation, but it was only a blip as centre Stead finished off a nice move after some clear work in the back line by full-back Chris Belton and Rees to push YM out to a 31-20 lead.

After the introduction of twins Steven and Stuart Dyke, the visitors capped a good second-half show when Rees rounded off a fluid move.

It was encouraging for YM, who at some stages had four of their Under 19 side on the park.

YMCA: Belton (Travis 72), Wilson, Rees, Stead, Ryder, Williams, Wolfe, Van Niekirk, Joblin, Dobson, Housley, Whitehead, Anderson (Dyke SJ 72), Coulson (Dyke SD 72), Walker.