Heworth ARLC boosted their hopes of escaping the re-election zone in National Conference division two with a 14-12 defeat of fellow strugglers Huddersfield Sharks - but only after a tense 80 minutes at Elmpark Way.

A considerable size deferential in Huddersfield's favour was illustrated by prop-sized former professional winger Abraham Phillips, who needed four comparatively boy-sized Heworth players to push him into touch.

And their strength in defence was clear with several Heworth efforts held up on the line. But it was also helped by the hosts' slap-dash handling and a lack of ideas when on the offensive.

However, the Villagers still got the vital win, which moves them one point behind third-bottom Sharks and two behind Cottingham, who beat bottom-club Saddleworth 12-0.

A fantastic length-of-the-field kick on 22 minutes released Gavin Grant headlong into a sprint with the two nearest Sharks playing catch-up but his kick forward was too heavy and the gilt-edged chance bounced through the end zone.

Inevitably, the Sharks grabbed the initiative and full-back Chris Lodge burst through and offloaded a suspiciously forward pass to Ritchie Hawkyard, who jinked past John Coulson to score on 38 minutes, Lodge goaling.

But Jamie Wright - possibly the slightest man on the pitch - sparked an instant revival by turning over Phillips and getting the wheels in motion for a Nathan Witty try.

Heworth were presented with a perfect opportunity to level three minutes into the second half with a penalty in front of the posts only for Carl Potter, distinctly off-form with the boot, to send it wide.

Prolific winger Grant made up for his first-half mishap to touch down in the corner five minutes later, before Potter finally found the scoreboard with a 66th-minute penalty.

Wright crossed for a final and crucial deciding try, the importance emphasised when Hawkyard - rumoured to be in Bradford Bulls' sights - scored his second of the match and Matthew Oldfield added the extras to make it 14-12 on the final whistle.

Relieved Heworth coach Alfie Hill said: "The first half we had a lot of pressure but we just couldn't get it over.

"You have to be patient and we haven't got a lot of patience but we just kept at it and it came in the end."

York Acorn's hopes of promotion at the other end of the table took another huge dent as they lost 17-14 in a similarly tense encounter at Widnes St Marie's.

It was the Blue and Golds' third match without a win and leaves them three points off the top two and only one point ahead of Waterhead who have three games in hand.

A penalty and a drop-goal in the last ten minutes were the difference between the sides as Acorn's late attempts to score a match-winning try were halted by stern defence.

Widnes had stormed ahead in the first half through an early Danny Yates try followed by a touchdown for loose-forward Adam Flanagan, goaled by Mark Birmingham, before Acorn got their act together.

Centre Kyle Palmer and speedy winger Johnny Waldron crossed for tries, with Andy Gargan's conversions putting them ahead.

However, the hosts were back ahead by 14-12 by half-time as Steve Riley finished a superb try.

The second half was tight with defences on top. Gargan brought Acorn level with a penalty just after the hour-mark but Birmingham booted a two-pointer and followed with a drop-goal to complete the scoring.

Updated: 10:36 Monday, February 14, 2005