YORK Lokomotive ARLC gained local bragging rights as they got their 2014 Yorkshire Men’s League group two season under way with a hard-fought but deserved 23-12 victory over Heworth 'A'.

The Lokos trailed 12-6 shortly after half-time, with the visitors having scored three tries to the hosts’ one, but their superior fitness told, with Luke Watling, who has been playing semi-pro rugby league in France, proving a key player on his debut.

Heworth took an early lead with an unconverted try after five minutes.

Lokos, though, began to eke out control - finding the Heworth defence a tough nut to crack until Luke Watling squirrelled his way over to score from acting-half after 30 minutes.

Tom Dunmore booted the first of his three conversions, to put the hosts 6-4 up at half-time.

The start of the second period mirrored the first as sloppy Lokos defence allowed Heworth to score two unconverted tries in the opening five minutes.

This, however, was the last time they threatened and tries at the other end by Dunmore, pictured, side-stepping through would-be tacklers, Chris Corr and Joe Fish gave the Lokos an advantage they were not going to surrender.

Watling added a cheeky last-minute drop goal from just inside the Heworth half to seal the victory.

Jamie Price, Watling, Ollie Hare and Stu Dickenson all stood out, though the man of the match was strong running second-row Jonny Cambridge.

York Acorn 'A' turned in a dominant display as they beat Oulton Raiders 'A' 38-8 in the Yorkshire Men's League premier division.

The Blue and Golds second string raced into a 26-0 interval lead and added a further two converted tries in the second half, restricting their visitors to two unconverted efforts.

Man of the match Karl Harton crossed on five minutes and added a second score on 21 minutes before Scott Snow's touch down, this time converted by Ken Shepherd.

Two minutes before the break Paul Cross got his name on the scoresheet and Marc Sanderson bagged a try on the stroke of half-time, Shepherd converting both.

Marcus Sykes got the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes after the break, but then Stephen Waldron reasserted Acorn's authority on 45 minutes with a try converted by Shepherd.

Cross went over for his second score on 66 minutes, with Shepherd goaling, while Jamie Wallace grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.

Acorn centre John Tattersfield was shown a red card for punching an opponent from behind.