YORK Acorn bounced back to winning ways in the National Conference League second division with a hard fought 14-4 home win over Eastmoor Dragons.

Acorn's win was built on an excellent defensive showing, which left everyone bemused on how they had been so inept in this department the week earlier.

In the first half the York side had to repel several back to back sets of sixes and conceded only one try - a 22nd minute unconverted effort out wide to right winger Ade Matthews.

That put Eastmoor level at 4-4 after Matthews' opposite number Jon Waldron latched onto a fine pass by centre partner Michael Embleton to cross over in the corner.

The game was a well contested affair between two well matched sides whose defences were on top form.

The standard of play was high in a match well marshalled by referee Robert Hicks.

In the first half several Acorn players made telling contributions, none more so than prop Michael Hagan and loose forward Nicky Caldwell, winger Alan Willitts and scrum half Paddy Handley.

Others to catch the eye were full back Kevin Brundrett, who caught everything and cleared his line well, stand off and man-of-the-match Danny Liddell who proved the catalyst between the forwards and the backs and substitute forward James Morrow who ran strongly.

Acorn regained the lead on 35 minutes, when a Liddell up-and-under was fumbled and gleefully pounced upon by substitute forward Adam Endersby for an unconverted score.

It remained 8-4 until the 75th minute when Acorn finally secured the win when second rower Lee Franks drove his way through several would-be tacklers and touched down for a try goaled by Brundrett.

Acorn's winning margin could have been greater because they were the better side after the restart thanks to forwards Darren Crake and Adam Endersby complimenting the early work done by Hagan, Morrow and Caldwell to shine.

Meanwhile, Heworth are still searching for their first victory of the National Conference Division Two season after a 50-14 defeat at unbeaten East Hull.

Gavin Grant and Mark Watkinson got the visitors' consolation tries but the damage was done during a one-sided first half with East Hull taking a 40-2 lead into the interval.

A Carl Potter penalty goal had given Heworth an early lead but Hull fought back with tries from Phil Batty (2), Rich Bowman, Jordan Precious, Lee James, Paul Roberts, Lee Brow and Gary Blanchard to take charge.

Blanchard, who had ran 90 metres for his first try, then started the second half by crossing the line again before Grant and Watkinson replied for Heworth and Potter goaled both efforts.

But East Hull added a final flourish through Blanchard, who completed his hat-trick late on.

Updated: 11:01 Monday, September 22, 2003