Heworth ARLFC end dispiriting losing saga (From York Press)

Heworth ARLFC end dispiriting losing saga

11:24am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

Heworth ARLFC sounded a 21-game salute when the National Conference League outfit bagged their first point of the division two season.

The Black and Whites staged a stunning recovery to come from 24-0 down at half-time at Featherstone Lions to draw 28-28.

It was also the first profitable return from any game for Heworth since they beat Waterhead in October 2010 – some 46 matches ago.

Said club spokesman Ken Sykes: “We came close to our first win of the season too, but we just could not get the final breakthrough.

“But at least there was a lot of commitment and a great spirit.”

That elusive first point in almost two years looked as remote as ever when the Lions, who have had their own difficulties in raising a team after an earlier season defection of personnel, roared into a 24-0 advantage in the first half.

No fewer than four tries were scored by Jack Nicholson, Sam Candlin, Davi Garahan and Luke Swinson, all converted by Richard Frankland.

“We had chances but we were a bit sloppy in possession and I think we were even a bit complacent that this was game from which we could bag our first victory,” added Sykes.

To Heworth’s credit the second-half display was a country mile away from the opening 40 minutes.

Once skipper Mike Welsh crossed the whitewash in the 45th minute for a try goaled by Tom Barron, they never looked back.

Sam Clarke also touched down with Barron obliging, and though there was a minor mishap when Candlin bagged his second try for the hosts, back came Heworth with tries from Michael Brown, Lewis Worthington and Tom Varley. The other blip was that Barron kicked two out of three, his attempt at converting Brown’s try rebounding off a post.

Barron also had a chance to win the game with a drop goal attempt in the last few minutes but the effort sailed fractionally wide.

However, thanks to stand-out performances from props Clarke and Tom Smith, plus veteran centre Nikki Wilson, Heworth’s long-standing barren run was, at last, over.