HEWORTH ARLC’s first home game in division two of the Yorkshire Men’s League ended in defeat when they went down 38-18 to Shaw Cross Sharks ‘A’ at Elm Park Way, writes David Ward.

The Villagers trailed 22-8 at the break with the solid defence which had been the foundation of their success in the opening two games sadly lacking on this occasion.

They did, however, produce some enterprising attacking play to claw the deficit back to only four points after 68 minutes, but the Dewsbury outfit posted three tries in the remaining 12 minutes to deservedly win the match.

Heworth opened their account after five minutes with winger Lewis Hartley going over for an unconverted try after collecting a fine cross kick by loose forward Joe Deighton.

Four minutes later, the visitors responded with a touchdown from second rower Curtis Sidebottom, goaled by winger Alex Whittaker.

They went further ahead after 13 minutes with stand-off Jordan Ward crossing next to the posts for another Whittaker goaled effort.

On 16 minutes, winger Leon Lonergan made it 16-4, but Heworth hit back when a defence-splitting pass from second rower Chris Varley sent Hartley racing in for his second touchdown, which again went unconverted.

Five minutes from the break, Sharks second rower Aiden Chandler added their fourth try, with Whittaker’s conversion making it 22-8 at half-time.

Heworth came out strongly in the second period, with substitute forward Ben Eastwood stepping his way in through the visitors’ defence after only five minutes.

It was game on 11 minutes later when home full-back Fraser West dummied his way over for Deighton to add the extras and reduce the deficit to four points at 22-18.

Shaw Cross, however, produced a devastating final 12 minutes with tries for hooker John Rourke, Sidebottom and Chandler, two of which scrum-half Jamie Searby goaled.

Villagers skipper Varley was man of the match, with second rower Josh Turley and prop Mark Hayes also prominent.