YORK'S top two amateur RL clubs, Heworth and York Acorn, both failed to get the start they craved in their National Conference League division two campaigns.

It was always going to be hard for the duo, and Heworth fell 42-24 at home to title favourites Ince Rose-bridge, while Acorn lost away to relegated Crosfields, 16-6.

Heworth were still in their game at half-time as they trailed only 14-8, courtesy of an 80-metre interception try by winger Gavin Grant, the club's top scorer last season, plus a conversion and penalty by Carl Potter.

But Rosebridge, who had gone ahead in the second minute through Damien Cleary and crossed again through Lee Jukes, who added two conversions and a penalty before the break, were to streak clear in the second half.

Lee Jones, Carl Roden, Cleary and Carl Sargent all crossed the whitewash for the visitors as they got on top, before Nikki Wilson strolled over for Heworth - for whom full-back Jamie Wright and loose-forward Sam Clarke shone - and Grant claimed his second touchdown, both tries being converted.

Dave Hatton hit back for Rosebridge before Will Neary completed the game's scoring with Heworth's final try, Potter again goaling.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "They're a very good side and we knew it was going to be a tough start. We deserve credit for sticking in there and coming back as strong as we did."

Acorn, for whom Adam Endersby was prominent, showed they could be a force to be reckoned with despite going down to defeat.

Acorn's Danny Liddell was yellow-carded in the fifth minute and this helped hosts Crosfields go ahead with a Neil Hicks try.

The Blue and Golds struck back through a Johnny Waldron try and a penalty by Kev Brundrett but the stalemate was broken before half-time as Ray Waring sprinted in for the hosts to go 10-6 up, the try coming after Acorn prop Lee McTigue and foe Hicks were both sin-binned.

Mark Nestor scored the only try of the defence-dominated second half around the hour mark, Richard Hough adding his second conversion, to wrap up Crosfields' victory.

Updated: 11:35 Monday, September 06, 2004