THE good times continued to roll for Heworth as they maintained their winning start to the National Conference League division two programme with a thrilling 20-18 home win over Castleford Panthers.

However, they needed a last-ditch Kevin Gott tackle on Panthers centre Craig Pearson to secure the points after the visitors produced a storming fightback against a Villagers side who were not at their most fluent.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It was not out best performance of the season but if we can win without playing that well it has to be good.

"We haven't had much luck in the last couple of seasons but maybe a bit of it is going our way now."

He added: "After Steve Barnard got his second try the feeling was we would go on from there but we didn't. Indeed we almost got pipped at the end.

"It could have been complacency, I don't know, and we've got to learn from that for future matches."

Excellent displays by Mark Green and Will Neary were the bedrock of Heworth's success, with Barnard's two tries proving crucial.

Shaun Wales had given Panthers the lead with a penalty on 19 minutes to which Pearson added a try, but Heworth were level at 6-6 at the interval when Mick Harrison put Barnard through for his first try, with Dave Carling adding the conversion.

Green put Barnard in for his second try just after the break, Carling again adding the extras, but Andy Smith replied at a time when Heworth had hoped to go further ahead.

Carling goaled a penalty but Wales responded like for like before Sam Clarke's touchdown on 69 minutes, plus Carling's goal, saw Heworth in control.

But the Panthers stormed back with Luke Varley touching down and Wales converting the try, and they almost snatched the win but for Gott's vital save.

Updated: 11:39 Monday, September 17, 2001