Yorkshire Men's League Division One: Heworth 20 Norland Sharks 23

BASIC errors proved costly for Heworth after they went down narrowly to second-placed Norland Sharks at Elmpark Way.

However, it was an enthralling see-saw encounter played in incessant rain, which made handling difficult, and the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle.

Heworth went in front after 11 minutes when stand-off and player-coach George Elliott burst through for an unconverted score.

Six minutes later, the visitors levelled through centre Ben Jarratt before good hands to the right led to home loose forward Fergus Chapman crossing, centre Lewis Worthington's conversion putting them 10-4 ahead.

On 31 minutes, Sharks second-rower Paul Shaw went over for a try that was goaled by stand-off Carl Pettman, and the sides were locked at 10-10 at the break.

Heworth's failure to control the ball led to the East Yorkshire club dominating possession for the majority of the second period but some committed scrambling defence kept them at bay until the 60th minute when Pettman nipped over next to the posts and tagged on the extras.

The black and whites though kept battling away, however, and on 72 minutes it was all-square again after Elliott registered his second touchdown, improved by Worthington.

Norland, however, hit back immediately when the home defence failed to gather a high kick on the final tackle and Sharks loose forward Shane Tidswell was on hand to snap up the loose ball and touch down by the sticks for Pettman to add the conversion.

It all looked over for the Villagers on 77 minutes when Pettman snapped a field goal to make it 23-16 but, in a frantic final minute, man-of-the-match Worthington kept their hopes alive after diving over direct from acting half to reduce the deficit to three points.

There were just seconds left on the clock for the re-start but Heworth were unable to capitalise and the visitors went home with the spoils.