YORK Acorn gave another below-par performance on their travels in a 25-10 defeat at a rapidly-improving Skirlaugh side.

Acorn's attack laboured in the face of the physical Hull side's defence and were in a good position with the penalty count but they threw away the advantage with poor ball retention, usually at the start of a set.

To make matters worse, Acorn's defence missed far too many tackles, while failing to finish off an opponent in the tackle usually led to Skirlaugh keeping the ball alive to damaging effect.

Skirlaugh took the lead on seven minutes when their attack got on the outside of Acorn's right-edged defence and created the opportunity for full back Reece Dean to cross for a try goaled by their stand-off Carl Puckering.

On 15 minutes, the hosts moved into a 12-point lead when powerhouse winger Martin Harling went over for a try off a short pass by scrum-half John Gay and Puckering once again added the extras to put his side into a healthy lead.

Acorn introduced to the action former York Wasps and Hull KR playmaker and Acorn assistant coach Mark Cain who certainly elicited a positive response from his troops.

The visitors reduced the deficit on the half-hour mark as centre Jordan Potter found winger Matty Downes out wide to squeeze in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Skirlaugh pulled ahead again to increase their lead to a commanding 14 points with the half-time break approaching as substitute Connor Myers capitalised on a darting run by Gay to score a try down the Acorn left edge.

The home side even had the cheek to edge further in front on 44 minutes courtesy of a smartly-taken Gay drop goal before, on 55 minutes, they were able to capitalise on a piece of good luck with a high up-and-under being spilt by a Skirlaugh player but finding its way to Connor Myers who crossed for a try which Puckering added the extras to.

Trailing by 21 points, Acorn still had the industrious Jack Byrnes, Nathan Welsh and James Bromwich showing up well in the forward exchanges and Acorn's man-of-the-match scrum-half Harry Bromwich working hard behind the pack.

And the visitors finally showed what they were capable of on 69 minutes when their ability to keep the ball alive saw Matt Chilton, Bromwich and Callum Worthington combine before the ball finally found its way back into the hands of Chilton who crossed for a try converted by his brother Anthony.