Kingstone Press National Conference League Division One: York Acorn 28 Hunslet Club Parkside 22

FOR the second week in a row, York Acorn were edged out.

They certainly had their moments and, were it not for poor composure close to the opposition's try line, the result could have been different.

The damage was done in the opening stages but Acorn battled back from deficits of 16-0 at half-time and 28-6 in the second half to only lose by a converted score.

Hunslet struck on three minutes when Acorn failed to deal with a bomb, quick hands giving playmaker and man of the match Danny Rowse the chance to go around the home defence for a try.

Parkside stretched their lead to 8-0 four minutes later when an excellent short pass by Rowse sent powerhouse prop Jamie Fields crashing over.

To their credit, Acorn gradually got to grips with their visitors but a combination of poor final passes and tactical decisions, allied to solid Hunslet line defending, frustrated the hosts.

Just before half-time, a cut-out pass led to centre Dale Harris going in at the corner for a try which Rowse improved for 14-0, and he still had time to land a stunning 55-metre penalty goal when Acorn ripped the ball out on halfway.

It was important that Acorn responded at the start of the second half, and they did, full back Joe Budd sending substitute centre and long-term injury victim Jordan Potter in for a 48th-minute try on his competitive comeback, stand-off Anthony Chilton adding the extras.

Unfortunately, Hunslet responded in kind six minutes later when loose forward Craig Miles burrowed over, Fields landing the goal for 22-6.

But Acorn didn't let their heads drop, twice being thwarted when a score looked odds-on, firstly by a forward pass after winger Matty Downes crossed in the corner, and secondly when an excellent break by second-rower Brandon Harris was thwarted by a loose pass.

The hosts then fell victim to a sucker punch in the 68th minute when a midfield break by Fields was finished off by substitute Ryan Gaunt, who crossed under the posts for a try to which Fields added the extras.

Acorn then lit the light blue touchpaper with an emphatic final ten minutes that nearly brought them an unlikely win.

The fightback began when outstanding prop forward Tim Stubbs deservedly got on the scoresheet when he crashed over for a 71st-minute try which Chilton converted.

Four minutes later, Acorn's irrepressible hooker James Mountford forced his way over, Chilton again improving to make it 28-18.

And on 78 minutes, they passed the ball out wide to Downes, who nipped over in the corner for a try that put the blue and golds just 28-22 behind, but the clock wasn't on their side and, despite mounting one last-ditch effort, no more points were forthcoming.

Impressive for Acorn were forwards Stubbs, Mountford, Rushworth and Bulmer, while the tackling of scrum half Tim Elliott and centre Ryan Gallacher, along with the impressive return of Potter kept Acorn's backs in the contest.