YORK Acorn ARLC's hopes of making the National Conference League division one playoffs hang by a thread after they lost 38-16 at promotion chasing Kells.

That loss in Whitehaven sees the Blue and Golds drop to seventh place - one place outside the playoff spots - with only two games to go.

They must now win against Saddleworth at Thanet Road and at Salford City Roosters and hope the other playoff hopefuls gets positive results in their head-to-head clashes.

Acorn started the brighter in the opening ten minutes but, gradually, Kells built momentum and stung Acorn with a three try blast as they moved into a 14-0 lead.

Daniel Joyce's 16th minute try was added to by Ben Milburn, five minutes later, and man-of-the-match prop David Lowery crashed over in the 34th minute - Stephen McCourt adding the extras.

Acorn gave themselves hope three minutes before the interval when Elliott Bulmer bulldozed in from close range for a try goaled by Anthony Chilton.

The deficit was cut to 14-12 five minutes after the restart when Tom Hill nipped in and Chilton again added the extras.

Kells hit the try scoring trail once again though on 48 minutes with the first of what would be a four try blast from Tyrone Dalton.

Acorn hit back when winger Josh Thompson went over out wide after initially out jumping the Kells defence to catch a cross field up and under.

But sadly for Acorn, and despite the efforts of full-back Jake Calam and prop forwards Tim Stubbs and Joe Porter, the task of getting back into the game - combined with the slope they had to contend with in the second-half - got the better of them.

Kells ran in further tries through Paul Cullnean on 66 minutes before Dalton, on 69, 72 and 75 minutes, made their misery complete.