Kingstone Press National Conference League Division One: Ince Rose Bridge 24 York Acorn 32

YORK Acorn produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance before overcoming a stubborn Ince Rose bridge outfit on their own turf.

The final scoreline only tells half the story as the visitors held an 8-6 half-time lead before racing into a commanding 20-6 advantage by the 50-minute mark.

Ince then scored three tries in five minutes spell to forge ahead 24-20 before Acorn overcame the sin-binning of centre Josh Thompson for an alleged dangerous tackle to score two late tries and register a deserved and much- needed win that sets them up perfectly for next week's home clash with struggling Blackbrook.

Acorn began brightly enough and held the upper hand for much of the first quarter, opened the scoring on 15 minutes when debutant winger Arron McBride scooped up a loose pass on the half-volley before nipping over for an unconverted try in the corner.

With centre Matty Downes and winger Jack Stewart adding real punch in attack in the backs and man-of-the-match Tim Stubbs and loose forward Tim Elliott doing likewise in the forward exchanges, the visitors continued to hold sway.

They increased their lead on 28 minutes when an up and under caused mayhem in Ince's goal-line defence, and the ball was spun out to Stewart, who produced impressive athleticism to touch down in the corner for Acorn's second unconverted score.

Ince finally managed to break through the tight Acorn defence on 31 minutes, when, despite being in a three-man tackle, a home player managed to offload the ball for a support player to go in under the posts for a converted try, making the interval score 8-6.

Acorn started the brighter of the sides after the resumption, and on 46 minutes they stretched their lead to 14-6 when a long pass direct from an attacking scrum heel found its way out wide, and that man Stewart again dived in at the corner which Anthony Chilton improved.

Minutes later, Acorn were over again when a speculative pass by impressive interchange Joe Burns, when he was in danger of being tackled into touch, found its way to Downes, who, from 35 metres out, bludgeoned his way through several would-be tacklers before touching down for a Chilton goal to put Acorn into a seemingly commanding position at 20-6.

However, the visitors were then guilty – not for the first time this season – of imploding and, on the back of several back-to-back penalties, conceded three converted scores in five minutes as 'Mr Hyde' took centre stage.

Fortunately, despite Thompson's sin-binning, 'Dr Jekyll' made a timely re-introduction, which enabled the York side to regain control just when it mattered most.

The decisive moment of this enthralling game came on 72 minutes when the impressive Downes crashed over for an Chilton converted try that put the visitors 26-24 in front.

Ince thought they had taken the spoils at the death when they crossed for a try out wide, but, on the intervention of a touch judge, the try was correctly wiped off as there was a blatant forward pass in the build-up.

Acorn then proceeded to go up to the other end and seal victory when stand-off Chilton took the Ince line on and, despite being under pressure from three would-be tacklers, he was able to stretch his hand out and place the ball down for a try that he himself improved.