Error-strewn York Acorn suffer National Conference promotion blow at Eccles (From York Press)

Error-strewn York Acorn suffer National Conference promotion blow at Eccles

9:42pm Sunday 19th August 2012 in Rugby League

A CATALOGUE of errors consigned York Acorn ARLC to a 36-24 defeat at Eccles in National Conference League division one.

The defeat, Acorn’s fifth of the campaign, leaves the Blue and Golds in third place, three points behind leaders Hunslet Warriors with a game in hand.

Eccles opened the scoring on six minutes. Acorn lost the ball in a tackle and scrum-half Paul Morgan regathered for an easy score. Full-back Andrew Muscat goaled.

Acorn replied on 11 minutes when Nick Speck shot down the blindside to score directly from a play the ball.

On 16 minutes they moved ahead when a flowing move saw winger Joel Johnson go over in the corner. Five minutes later, a superb John Smith off-load sent Joe Budd in. Antony Chilton goaled.

From the restart Acorn knocked on and, from the scrum, centre Mike O’Boyle crossed before Muscat scored wide out to make it 14-14.

Acorn’s Matthew Woods scored a smart try in the corner on 31 minutes, but Adam Taher kicked a penalty and, from the restart, Acorn fumbled a towering bomb and second-row Carl Mort scored. Taher goaled for a 20-18 half-time lead.

Eccles stretched their lead on 52 minutes when centre Payden Candland scored. Woods grabbed his second after a good break down the touchline and Chilton’s goal levelled the game at 24-24.

However, Richard Openshaw scored a try which Muscat converted. Muscat then kicked a penalty and added a late try.

Acorn’s Adam Endersby worked hard, backed by Budd and Andy Gargan.

Basement boys Heworth ARLC suffered their 18th straight defeat of the National Conference League division two season as they crashed 40-0 at home to Askam.

The Villagers turned in a hard-working performance but never looked like breaching the visiting defence.

Askam led 28-0 at the break after tries by Mike Wilson (2), Lee Norman (2) and Kristian Tyson, who also kicked four conversions.

James Duerden touched down twice in the second half and Tyson added the extras.

Chris Varley, Mark Hayes, Jack Hodgson and Mike Welsh, who made four try-saving tackles, were Heworth ’s top performers.