AN excellent display by Heworth ARL Club brought them their second successive home win and opened a gap between themselves and the re-election zone in National Conference division two.

Former York City Knights full-back Chris Smith was again on the mark, this time with two tries, while ex-Knights prop Dan Briggs impressed on his return at prop as the Villagers beat Waterhead 32-24.

It would have been an even more commanding win but for a late rally by the visitors which reduced the gap from 30-8 with 12 minutes left.

Heworth led 16-8 at the break, with teenage scrum-half Lee Rientoul giving a man-of-the-match display and setting up the opening try for Glen Chittock. Further touchdowns for Luke Judson, back-rower Wayne Foster and winger John Coulson followed, and when player-coach Smith got his second with 12 minutes left the points were seemingly in the bag.

However, the foot went off the gas and, after substitute hooker Jon Jewitt was sin-binned for holding down, Waterhead, for whom Peter Pearson had earlier crossed with Terry Fitzgerald adding two goals, roared back with tries for Paul Joyce (2) and Warren Druggitt, plus Fitzgerald goals, leaving Heworth grateful for a last-minute Aaron Wood penalty, his fourth goal, to end the comeback and finally seal the win.

York Acorn had no such luck in their top-of-the-table clash in division one at West Hull. The game was still in the balance going into the last quarter when BARLA Great Britain international full-back Lee Moreton - who had a brief spell with the Knights in 2003 albeit without actually playing - dummied his way over for his second try to stretch the hosts' lead to 24-10.

Acorn had earlier trailed 10-0 but came back to level as half-back Andy Gargan scored a try and goal just before the break and centre Mike Embleton crossed the other side of half-time.

But Wests posted three more tries to maintain their 100 per cent home record. Winger Chris Lee and stand-off Loz Wildbore were on the mark alongside Moreton, while Wildbore added four goals to seal a result which sees Acorn drop to fifth in the table.

Updated: 09:33 Monday, November 14, 2005