HEWORTH ARLC suffered their third defeat of the season in Yorkshire Mens League Division two after losing 46-22 at Shaw Cross Sharks 'A'.

The Villagers trailed 24-12 at the break after a poor opening quarter allowed the home side to post four unanswered tries and race into a 24-0 lead.

A determined fightback saw Heworth close the gap to 30-22 after 62 minutes but, in the end, the deficit proved just too much to overhaul.

After Heworth wasted a couple of early scoring opportunities through poor handling, the Sharks opened their account after nine minutes with a try by centre Matthew Collett, which was converted by wingman Alex Whittaker.

Some sloppy defending in the next quarter of an hour saw the Sharks add three further touchdowns from hooker Sam Bastow, scrum half Jamie Searby and full-back Tom Stuckey. All were goaled by Whittaker for a 24-0 lead.

Heworth hit back on 29 minutes when full-back Fraser West's pass saw centre Mike Welsh go over for a try. Loose forward Joe Deighton added the extras.

Five minutes from the break, hooker and man of the match Jack Hodgson broke away from near the halfway line and handed on to centre Danny Simpson. His pass sent Deighton in to cross for a well-worked score, which he goaled himself, to reduce the deficit.

Eight minutes into the second period, the home side increased their lead with a try by Whittaker, which the wingman goaled, but Heworth hit back seven minutes later.

West collected a Sharks' kick from inside his own half and weaved his way through the home defence on a 70 metre run to the line. It was a fine individual effort converted by Deighton.

On 62 minutes, the Villagers were in again after an excellent pass from acting half by Hodgson saw Welsh squeeze in at the corner for his second try to close the gap to eight points.

The hosts though were not to be denied, though, and took advantage of a tiring defence to register three tries in the closing eight minutes. Centre Aiden Kay and a brace from prop Richard Piper, two of which were converted by Whittaker, sealed a deserved win.

In National Conference League division one, York Acorn won 34-26 at Wigan St Judes.