York Acorn's promotion hopes were finally quashed following a nail-biting 27-22 defeat by National Conference League division two champions elect Hunslet Warriors.

The dream may well be over but Acorn can take a lot of satisfaction from this performance which saw them push the runaway leaders all the way.

Acorn took the lead in the third minute when hooker Stephen Waldron burrowed over from acting half.

Hunslet hit back almost immediately when lively full-back Frank Lapping latched onto a trademark short pass to scamper over, experienced stand-off Dean Creasser adding the extras.

A 20th-minute Creasser penalty saw the visitors edge 8-4 ahead before Acorn showed their attacking prowess to regain the lead, when left-winger Steven Irving capitalised on an up-and-under from teenage stand-off Andy Gargan to romp over out wide. The try was converted well by Stephen Waldron.

A Creasser penalty just after the half hour tied the scores at 10-10 before flying winger Jason Wright crossed for the first of his two decisive scores.

On the stroke of half-time Acorn reduced the deficit to 14-12 with a John Hough penalty.

The second half had barely begun when Hunslet winger Wright flew down the left to notch his second try, Creasser converting to put the Leeds-based visitors 20-12 ahead.

Acorn were not out of it, however, and notched two tries in three minutes either side of the hour.

Teenage substitute forward Nicky Caldwell charged over for the first and then a stunning 65-yard effort by teenage scrum-half Johhny Waldron saw Hunslet's experienced three-quarters eating dust.

Hough's conversion put Acorn back in front but their joy was short-lived when a suspiciously forward pass allowed Hunslet to take the spoils when impressive centre Scott Barrow raced in from 35 yards.

Creasser's conversion and 74th-minute field goal saw Hunslet win the game but twice at the death Acorn nearly engineered a match-winning score.

Second rowers Carl Stannard and Carl Rollinson, along with experienced prop Mick McTigue and livewire Johnny Waldron, were the pick of an excellent Acorn bunch.

Updated: 12:02 Monday, March 04, 2002