YORK Acorn ARLC threw down the gauntlet to their National Conference premier division play-off rivals with a 22-16 win at Leigh Miners Rangers.

Seventh-placed Acorn toppled their fifth-placed hosts to close to within a point of Wigan St Pats and the all-important sixth spot.

The Blue and Golds were already without key men Ian Brown, Kyle Palmer and Davey Burns before Simon Wadsworth pulled out of the squad.

However, they rose to the challenge with a superb team performance.

Leigh Miners went ahead with an unconverted try in the seventh minute.

The visitors got on the scoreboard with a Jon Liddell penalty on 20 minutes.

Liddell then dummied through the defence and went over under the posts before converting his own try to make it 8-4 on 32 minutes.

A Liddell penalty extended the lead to 10-4 on 39 minutes, but Leigh hit back by reclaiming the ball from the kick off and crossing right on the half-time hooter.

A 45th-minute penalty from Leigh levelled the scores, but Acorn refused to buckle.

Danny Caldwell went over for an unconverted try on 55 minutes and Liddell kicked a penalty on 68 minutes to make it 16-10.

Andy Gargan put the game beyond reach when he touched down after supporting a Nick Caldwell break. Liddell added the extras.

Leigh managed to scramble a try under the posts with the last play of the game, but the points were already in the bag for Acorn.

Coach Alfie Hill said: “If we win all three of our remaining games, I think we will get sixth spot, but a lot could happen between now and the end of the season.”

Liddell marshalled the Blue and Gold troops superbly, while forward Mike Embleton was tireless in attack. Steve Ramsey and Matt Withers excelled in defence, but they were eclipsed by Tim Elliott, who defied his size to keep the Rangers’ forwards in check. Hill also praised John Tattersfield, who stepped up from the second team at late notice.

Heworth lost 68-0 at Rochdale Mayfield in division one.

Man of the match for the Villagers, who trailed 52-0 at the break, was scrum-half Craig Richardson. Carl Potter and Chris Varley impressed in the forwards.