Battling York Acorn are refusing to go down without a fight.

Floored: Acorn's Kenny Embleton brings down a New Earswick player during the rugby league derby clash at Thanet Road. Picture: Mike Tipping.

Passing on: Acorn's Mick Calam about to unload the ball to a colleague during Saturday's clash with New Earswick All Blacks. Picture: Mike Tipping.

Though still favourites to fill the second re-election spot in the National Conference second division, they kept their hopes alive with a fine 17-16 win over rivals New Earswick All Blacks.

It was the second successive win for Acorn, and sweet revenge for the 11-10 defeat inflicted on them by New Earswick in November.

But the result has left the All Blacks looking over their shoulder with just four games left to play.

Acorn somehow managed to grind out a result at Thanet Road despite playing the whole of the second half with 12 men following Ken Hilton's dismissal late in the first period.

In the usual bruising derby encounter, it was the visitors who drew first blood with a Dave Carling penalty after just three minutes.

A couple of minutes later Acorn were the first to cross the try line when the ball was moved along the line and Leigh Marshall sent in Gareth Lloyd too close to the corner for Lee Frank to convert.

New Earswick made up for a missed penalty by Carling to take the lead again after 14 minutes. Hooker Simon Baynes touched down near the corner flag after good work by Mick Harrison and Carling, the latter putting them four points clear with a superb touchline conversion.

With both sides defying the treacherous conditions - it was one of only half a dozen games to go ahead in the NCL - to play some good rugby, Acorn bounced back once again.

Carling failed to smother the ball following a kick through and Lloyd got a foot in to boot it further ahead, Mick Calam regathering to send Gary Endersby scampering under the posts. Lee Frank added the extras.

Blood soon started appearing on a number of faces and All Blacks' Dan Wellard was the first to leave the field with a split nose. Then a blockbusting tackle by Jez Petch laid out Acorn prop Leigh Marshall who was also forced off the field with blood streaming from his face.

Almost immediately, Hilton was given his marching orders when a high tackle sent New Earswick's Paul Booth flying.

A Carling penalty shortly before the interval left the game finely poised at 10-10.

The mud bath began to take its toll on the players in the second half but it was Acorn who made the better of it, marshalled by Frank at stand-off, and it was that man who set up the next try.

He made a superb run from inside his own half before being stopped short by a fine tackle from Harrison. From the play-the-ball, Lloyd at first receiver went over from close range to leave Frank an easy conversion.

Baynes looked to have replied for All Blacks when he dived over from acting half but was adjudged to have been held on his back.

Then came what proved to be the critical moment midway through the half when Frank coolly slotted over a 30-yard drop goal to put Acorn seven points clear.

All Blacks thought they were back in it when Carl Pallister shook off the tackle of Alan Willitts to score in the corner but the pass from Harrison was surprisingly adjudged to be forward.

They did manage a reply in injury time, Petch reaching out from under a tackle to ground the ball over the line just inside the right upright, Carling converting.

But Acorn held on to celebrate what could prove to be a vital win.

Heworth's premier division game at home to West Hull was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Terriers tame Allerton

Two second-half tries gave York Groves a superb 8-0 win over high-flying Allerton Bywater in the second division of the Yorkshire League.

Both sides defied the appalling conditions at Burdyke to contribute to an excellent game, helped by some fine refereeing from former first grade official Fred Lindop.

Defences were on top in the first half as neither side was able to get a point on the board.

After the break the Terriers took the lead with a try by Nigel Ridsdale, coach Alan Mitchell hitting the post with the conversion attempt.

With Allerton pressing, Groves' defence held solid, in particular Glenn Robinson, who made several try-saving tackles, along with man of the match Andy Starkey and Rich Veedham.

Mitchell added a 60-yard try but was unable to add the extras.

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