ELEVEN-MAN Heworth ARLC Under-18s showed great character and team spirit away to Emley Moor, despite losing 28-22.

The Villagers started with a full 13 players, but were down to 11 after just five minutes due to injury.

Heworth completed their opening four sets, and that good rate allowed full-back Dan Craig to chase down his own kick and score a try and conversion.

Heworth felt hard done by when Emley crashed over and, despite the best efforts of Callum Prenty, Jake Ripley and Craig Richardson, Emley broke away to score a second converted try.

Emley took advantage of their two-man overlap to stretch the Heworth defence, and, although the visitors scrambled superbly, the pressure took its toll with two more scores making it 24-6.

Heworth got rewards for their efforts when scrum-half Craig Richardson caught Emley unawares with a quick penalty to score. A sin-binning also lifted Heworth and they finished the half the stronger.

Heworth came back out with an outstanding work-rate and superb tackling and this saw centre Josh Bolam, the inspirational captain, twist, turn and stretch over the line, and then break through again to make it 24-18.

The outstanding Callum Prenty then ran from deep and showed good footwork to score but, as the visitors went looking for the lead, this led to a lapse in concentration in defence and Emley got a decisive score.

Heworth U14s continued their winning ways with a hard-fought 36-10 victory at improving Bradford Dudley Hill.

The Villagers needed the points to stay top of division two, but the Bradford side made them fight all the way on a quagmire pitch.

Tries came from Jordan Potter (2), Alex Clough, Jack Stewart, Harry Deighton, Dan Coulson and Elliot Bulmer, with goals added by Deighton (2) and Liam Jackson.

Bulmer, Coulson and Peter Clarke were strong in attack and defence, as was Billy Legg who made crucial tackles as Dudley Hill threatened.

Stand-off Jackson dominated midfield with help from hooker Deighton and scrum-half David Hayes, while Clough and Josh Poulter did well to cover cross-field kicks.

Heworth U13s gave top-of-the-table Middleton a fright before losing 42-26.

The Villagers blew the hosts away to lead 20-0 but Middleton showed why they are unbeaten.

Centre Lewis Holmes sprinted down the wing to score, Jack Rowson burst over from acting-half, Holmes outstripped the defence again, and Richard Ashton and Rowson combined for Ashton to score.

Man-of-the-match Nathan Hammerton added two goals, as he controlled the game from scrum-half with Heworth dominating.

Middleton hit back to make it 20-10 at half-time and they levelled matters soon after the restart, but, with Hammerton still busy in the middle of the park, the ball was taken up to the line and Rowson again dived through, Dave Larkin goaling.

However, Middleton again hit back and, as Heworth tired, they took the game away.

In parts, though, Heworth had played some of their best rugby this season. Top tackler was winger Arron Raftree while coaches’ player of the week was Lewis Hartley.