YORK Acorn ARLC Under-16s are the new Yorkshire Junior League division three champions.

The young Blue and Golds sealed their success with a defence-dominated 12-4 victory in a winner-takes-all match at title rivals Lock Lane.

It meant the Thanet Road side completed their season with 13 wins from 14 fixtures and only one defeat - a narrow 22-20 loss at home to Castleford outfit Lock Lane earlier in the year.

Revenge, though, was sweet.

They had to come from behind, too, with Lock Lane taking a 4-0 lead into half-time.

After the interval, some good ball skills saw Mathew Downes break through to score a try, with Matthew Chilton’s conversion putting his side ahead.

Acorn then pressed Lock Lane’s left side and Downes broke the line to put man-of-the-match Reece Maynard over the whitewash, with Chilton eking up the lead with a penalty.

Acorn had to endure a nervy last ten minutes when Robert Kay was sin-binned but they held their nerve and their defensive line to secure the success.

Ironically, Acorn had begun the year in division four, having seen their request for promotion turned down despite a top-three finish last season.

The team were reassessed after four big wins, though, and duly placed in the third tier.

Said spokesman Alan Havercroft: “We initially asked to be moved up but were not considered good enough.

“Having won those four games convincingly, we again requested a promotion.

“This time the request was accepted - and we went on to win the division title having lost only one game.”