Heworth came agonisingly close to ending a six-match losing streak in the National Premier League but were edged out by Wigan St Judes 17-16 in an intense encounter at Elmpark Way.
The Villagers held a narrow 10-6 lead at the break.
However, the visitors struck back with two tries in the first ten minutes of the second half, adding a 65th-minute drop goal to gain a seven-point advantage at 17-10.
In a frantic closing period, the hosts showed plenty of character to rally and close the gap to just a single point with a converted try on 71 minutes.
Despite creating several scoring opportunities, they were unable to finish the contest.
Heworth opened strongly, dominating possession and field position.
They opened the scoring after 12 minutes when centre Adam Dent's smart offload allowed winger Zach Towse to score by the corner flag for an unconverted score.
Continuing to control the territorial battle, they increased their advantage on 32 minutes when second rower Ben Barnard burst through the defensive line from 45 metres out, selling an outrageous dummy to go over under the posts for a fine individual try.
Hooker Jack Sadler added the extras for a 10-0 lead.
However, just seconds before the break, full-back Lewis Melling pounced on a wickedly bouncing ball behind the try line to score for the Saints, reducing the deficit to four points at the break.
St Judes came out after the break with renewed intent and quickly took the lead with centre Connor Parkinson and winger Harry Parkinson scoring tries within the first 11 minutes of the second half.
Heworth, as in past weeks, rallied to show their battling qualities, and it was nip and tuck for the next quarter of an hour before visitors' substitute Danny Cassidy edged them a further point ahead with a drop goal.
The Villagers, however, kept plugging away, and their efforts were rewarded on 71 minutes when stand-off Dan Clarke showed some neat footwork to step over from close range, and Sadler's conversion set up a nail-biting finish.
In a frantic closing period, the Black and Whites exerted strenuous efforts to achieve superiority, which led to them creating a number of scoring chances but they were just unable to maintain their composure with errors at vital times proving costly, and the visitors clung on to take the spoils.
Prop Jonny Payne took Heworth's Man of the Match Award with Liam Richmond, Harrison Briggs, and Kuari Enoka in close contention.
Next Saturday at 2.30pm, Heworth make the short trip to Castleford to face fellow strugglers Lock Lane in a must-win game.
