HEWORTH tightened their grip on top spot in Yorkshire Men's League division one with a 28-10 success over Oulton Raiders A.

In a scrappy encounter at Elm Park Way, The Villagers led 18-6 at the break but for the first time showed signs of fatigue from the exertions of a tough fixture schedule in recent weeks.

They lacked their usual zip and struggled throughout to maintain any shape in attack, but on the few occasions they did manage to create some space were able to turn it into points and secure the victory.

It looked like business as usual for the hosts after going in front in the fourth minute – centre Gareth Watson bursting through the visitors' defence from 40 metres out and shrugging off several defenders before crashing over for a fine individual try.

Two minutes later they doubled their advantage when stand off George Elliott put second rower Nathan Jamieson in for a second touchdown. Elliott's attempted conversions of both scores rebounded back off the uprights.

The Raiders bounced back and exerted strong pressure on the home line but the defence held firm and on 29 minutes they increased their lead when full back Billy Sturdy backed up a break by Elliott to cross close to the posts for Elliott to add the extras,

With six minutes of the half remaining, scrum-half Liam Jackson breached the defensive line and found centre Liam Watling in support to go over for Heworth's fourth try with Elliott's conversion attempt again denied by the posts.

Oulton kept plugging away and their persistence paid off on the stroke of half-time with a try by substitute Tim Stableford goaled by centre Greg Coldbridge to reduce the deficit to 18-6.

The visitors came out with renewed vigour in the second period and set home nerves jangling after five minutes with a touchdown from loose forward Adam Lunn.

With Heworth struggling to find any fluency, it looked like an upset could be on the cards.

For the next 20 minutes it was nip and tuck until, with quarter of an hour remaining, the home side regained control with Elliott putting Watling over for his second score.

The stand-off's acquaintance with the woodwork continued but this time the deflection bounced over the crossbar to make it 24-10.

The Black and Whites' final try came on the final whistle when the Raiders failed to deal with a towering bomb by Elliott and Jackson snapped up the loose ball to cross in the corner.

Hooker Josh Poulter was man of the match for Heworth with good support from Watling, Watson and prop Jonny Cambridge.

In the same division, York Acorn 'A' produced a battling performance before narrowly going down to a 33-24 defeat at the hands of a tough Queensbury side.

Acorn more than matched their high-flying opponents for long periods of this contest, due mainly to the all-round workrate of loose forward Bradley Winter, the creative approach play of scrum-half Keneth Shepherd and the powerhouse running of winger Jack Stewart.

Acorn's points haul came from tries by centre Jake Calam (2), second rower Harry Bromwich, substitute forward Nick Caldwell and winger Tom Matthews to go with two successful goal kicks from the boot of full back Josh Parker.

In division five, Heworth A entertained Huddersfield St Josephs and, despite a determined effort after trailing 28-12 at the break, went down 40-18.

The Villagers' tries came from George Wallace, Jamie Price and George Hampshire along with three Karl Read conversions.