A SUPERB team performance earned Heworth ARLC a 26-4 victory at West Bowling in National Conference division two.

The Villagers were brilliant in defence as they withstood great pressure from the hosts and emerged with a first away win in 18 months.

They forged ahead on five minutes with a try by second-row Liam Watling from a pass by player-coach Chris Smith. Adam Caddie added the extras.

Bowling hit back with a try by loose-forward Jonathan Summers on nine minutes, but the visitors led 12-4 at half-time after Mike Welsh hacked ahead and ran 70 metres to the line, with Caddie again converting.

Having soaked up pressure, which included a try-saving tackle by full-back Gareth Watson, Heworth made the game safe.

On 52 minutes, Smith ran 80 metres and was pulled down just short of the line, only for Watling to cross. Caddie converted.

Ten minutes later, prop Carl Potter went over and Caddie’s conversion made it 24-4. With 12 minutes left, Caddie kicked a penalty.

Watson and Jon Jowitt excelled in defence, while the front row of Ben Eastwood, Liam Cochrane and Potter also starred.

Meanwhile, York Acorn suffered their sixth defeat of the premier division campaign as they went down 38-32 at Saddleworth.

The Acorn try scorers included Andy Gargan, Steve Mackley, John Waldron and Nicky Caldwell.