YORK Acorn made it three wins in a row with arguably their best second-half home performance of the season, when they scored 20 unanswered points to beat National Conference League division one high flyers Normanton 36-16.

After a bright opening, Acorn found themselves behind when they failed to hold on to the wet ball and the visitors were able to have three sets near the try line.

Eventually, centre Butterfield crashed over for a try in the left-hand corner which fellow centre Taylor then converted.

To Acorn's credit they didn't allow this to upset them, and they drew level when in-form second row Brandon Harris charged over for a try which man-of-the-match Anthony Chilton converted.

Normanton hit back to regain the lead after 13 minutes when Acorn were punished for lack of numbers out on the right and Taylor took advantage to score a try which he also converted.

Back again came Acorn with Downes executing a smart one-on-one ball steal play, and he romped over for an unconverted score to narrow the deficit to 12-10.

Acorn moved in front for the first time after 25 minutes when a high bomb was misjudged by the visitors' defence and quick-thinking Harris reacted quickest to pick up and race over for his second try of the half.

Chilton added the conversion to put Acorn 16-12 to the good.

However, a Normanton kick into the corner saw winger Joe Crossland catch the ball and score to make it 16-16 at the break.

Acorn came out looking a much more polished outfit both in attack and defence.

They made their new found superiority count as early as the 45th minute, when lively replacement hooker Nick Speck darted from acting half to race over for a try which was goaled by Chilton.

Acorn withstood a Normanton attack that included three repeat sets before extending their lead.

The impressive Downes smashed his way over for an unconverted try out wide, which put the blue and golds 26-16 up.

Smart game management saw Acorn increase their lead when Chilton added a 60th minute penalty as the visitors started to lose their composure.

The game's final try score came when Chilton managed to hang on to an awkward pass close to the visitors' try line, before completing a hit and spin movement and going in for a try which he also converted.

Chilton completed the Acorn scoring with a 73rd minute penalty goal that gave him a personal tally of 16 points.