Pressure mounts on York Acorn ARLC as promotion rivals triumph (From York Press)

Pressure mounts on York Acorn ARLC as promotion rivals triumph

9:52am Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport

YORK Acorn ARLC crashed 28-6 at home to promotion rivals Bradford Dudley Hill in division one of the National Conference League.

Chances were at a premium with defences on top in a tight first half at Thanet Road and it took 25 minutes for the deadlock to be broken.

The Blue and Golds struck first with Mike Embleton carving open the visitors’ defence to send Joe Budd in under the posts from 30 yards. Anthony Chilton kicked an easy conversion.

Dudley Hill cranked up the pressure and centre Lewis Evans scored on the overlap on 32 minutes.

The visitors were awarded a penalty on 39 minutes after a high tackle and hooker Nathan Kitson goaled to level the match up at half-time.

Acorn started the second half well and full-back Joel Johnson was tackled short with the line at his mercy. That turned out to be the Blue and Golds’ only decent attack of the half as the visitors’ superior kicking game and sharp passing had them struggling.

Winger Neil Wall scored wide out on 47 minutes and Kitson scored a smart try on 50 minutes as Acorn saw the game slipping away. Wall grabbed his second on 58 minutes from another kick and Kitson goaled from wide out.

Kitson added a penalty on 62 minutes and, three minutes later, Kyle Bateman crashed over from close range and Kitson goaled to round off the scoring.

Embleton took the man of the match award in an extremely lacklustre team performance and the pressure mounts in Acorn’s promotion push with only five games remaining.

Meanwhile, Heworth were beaten 38-8 despite a gutsy display at high-flying Waterhead in division two.

Second-placed Waterhead led 10-4 at half-time, with Tom Speck getting Heworth’s try, and the hosts pulled clear in the second half. Skipper Mike Welsh crossed for the Villagers.

Top performers for Heworth were Chris Varley, Mark Hayes, Speck and Mike Crossman.