YORK ACORN ARLC picked up two valuable points in their hunt for a National Conference League division one play-off berth with a 32-24 victory over Hunslet Warriors at Thanet Road.

The two teams served up a thrilling encounter which started from the kick off when Josh Mortimer was held up over the line.

It was Hunslet who opened the scoring, though. Pressuring the Acorn line, the ball came loose and, while the Blue and Golds looked for a knock on, prop Luke Day played on and crossed unchallenged. Gary McLelland added the extras.

Acorn responded on 11 minutes when, after a 50 metre intercept and good build up play, a cross-field kick saw Josh Thompson pick the ball out of the air and touch down. Anthony Chilton converted from the touchline.

Hunslet were soon coming back at Acorn, showing their skills with ball in hand and moving it wide for centre Karl Featherstone to cross.

After a further quarter of an hour of back and forth battle, second row Elliott Bulmer scored for Acorn - crossing the whitewash despite the attention of three tacklers - and Chilton's conversion put the home side in front.

A barnstorming run from prop Joe Porter allowed the ball to be moved out wide quickly to 17-year-old wing Matt Chilton, who scored his first try for the club.

Just as Acorn were looking comfortable, scrum-half Ben Gale scored for Hunslet when benefitting from a back door pass and York led only 16-14 at the break.

The second half was a forward dominated battle but, crucially, it was Acorn who scored first.

Joe Porter set the platform and full-back Ryan Gallacher found the gap.

When Chilton successfully kicked, Acorn had pulled ahead by eight but the cushion was still not enough.

Three minutes after scoring, Hunslet again capitalised on an Acorn error and punished them when Daryl Gaunt crossed following with an angled run. Jordan Gale's kick again reduced the gap to just two points.

Joe Budd then scored on 66 minutes, exploiting a gap after a superb show and go, only for Hunslet to again reply within 120 seconds. With Acorn falling off tackles, a good offload let in winger Jamie Creed.

That score set up a tense finale.

But Acorn sealed the game with four minutes to go. Man of the match Tim Stubbs capped a monumental performance with Hunslet unable to handle his power as he crashed over the posts. Chilton was once more perfect with the boot.

Hunslet tried hard to battle back yet again but a determined Acorn held them out to further boost their play-off bid.