Heworth ARLC completed a three-game winning streak on Saturday for the first time since the 2002-03 season with a much-needed high-scoring victory over bottom club Saddleworth Rangers.

The Villagers went into the game just two points ahead of the Pennine-based side and two points from the safety zone.

But their 44-26 triumph, which followed a defeat of Widnes St Marie's a fortnight ago and a National Cup win over Folly Lane last week, took them out of the bottom two, above Huddersfield Sharks on points difference.

It was a scrappy game littered with second-half sin-binnings plus the sending-off of Heworth's Sam Clarke two minutes from time.

The game was over by then, though, thanks to a seven-try home haul and eight goals from man of the match Carl Potter.

Phil Musgrave had given the Villagers a second-minute lead and, after Saddleworth hit back to take a two-point lead, two tries by Luke Judson and another from Wayne Foster, plus three conversions and a penalty, put the home team in the driving seat, 24-14 ahead at half-time.

Potter landed two more penalties after the interval and further tries came from Nikki Wilson and prolific winger Gavin Grant as Heworth stretched their lead before the referee began to flash his yellow cards - Wilson and Rangers' Aaron McCann were sin-binned after a skirmish, later followed by Rangers' Matthew Bottom (referee abuse) and Aaron Muller (foul and abusive language).

Saddleworth, who put 40 points past Heworth in the reverse fixture earlier this season, crossed twice more themselves, with these touchdowns sandwiching a second for Grant as the home team posted the joint-highest score of the day throughout the league.

Rangers' tries were scored by man of the match Emerson Jackman, James Rogers, Johnny Haughton and Lee Fletcher, Gareth Davies, adding five goals.

The Oldham team, however, appear to be in deep trouble, having replaced coach Stewart Smith with Mick Smith while seeing their second team struggle to put out a side.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "The ref was a bit pedantic really. It was more a scrappy game than anything else. Apart from a stuttering start we never looked like losing and we could really have made it a bigger score.

"But it's three on the trot now so it's been a good end to the year."

York Acorn's game at fellow promotion-seekers Waterhead was postponed.

Heworth 'A' continued their fine form in Yorkshire League division three with a 36-4 win at East Leeds.

Winger Sam Johnson latched onto a kick by Nathan Witty to touch down, and this was the launch-pad for new Army recruit from Catterick Rob Johnson to race in for a sparkling hat-trick, including two long-range efforts.

Livewire hooker Jamie Richardson also crossed and Greg Watkinson added the conversions for a 28-0 interval lead.

East Leeds finally found a chink in the visitors' defence but Heworth's young side, with the Flint brothers, Danny and Adam, to the fore, kept up the pace for Paul Thompson to add a penalty and convert a try for Liam Watling.

Debutant Ben Eastwood shone alongside the hard-working Shaun Strickland and Glen Chittock.

Updated: 10:40 Monday, December 20, 2004