YORK Acorn returned to winning ways in the National Conference Second Division with an emphatic 34-10 home win over Waterhead.

Of the 17 Acorn players on show, 15 were home-grown talent produced by the club's youth system.

Despite being twice behind in the early stages and the loss of experienced forward Michael Hagan with a badly twisted knee, Acorn roared back in style.

After conceding an early try, Acorn got their first points on the board with a penalty try after Jon Waldron was felled by a high tackle. Kevin Brundrett adding the extras.

With Waldron blood-binned and his brother, Stephen, hobbling off with a knee injury, the Oldham-based visitors regained the lead with a try.

But it was to prove their last score as Brundrett reduced the arreas with a penalty.

A brilliant pass by stand-off Danny Lidell gave returning winger Jonny Waldron the space to score his 11th try of the season from 35 yards out and Brundrett's kick put Acorn 14-10 in front.

The second half proved to be one of Acorn's most assured displays of the season with man of the match Adam Endersby leading the way at prop.

Together with the rest of the pack Acorn won the battle up front to create space which the backs used to great effect.

On 55 minutes James Morrow bounced off two would-be tacklers for a try which Brundrett goaled to put Acorn 20-10 up.

Five minutes later the speedy Waldron cut in for his hat-trick score and Brundrett's kick put Acorn in to a commanding 28-10 lead.

Waldron was denied a fourth touchdown but with time running out, a fine Craig Fox pass released centre Andy Lee who handed off the Waterhead full-back and went in under the posts for Brundrett to add his seventh successful kick.

Heworth remained dangerously close to the foot of the table after losing 20-10 at Cottingham Tigers.

Although it took a last minute try by Paul Barker to seal victory, the Villagers did not play well and made far too many mistakes and gave too many penalties away.

After falling behind to an Alex Benson penalty on 14 minutes, Heworth hit back when Mark Watkinson tore down the left wing after good work by Dan Briggs to score. Carl Potter goaled the extras to put the Black and Whites in front.

But before the interval, Tigers got their noses in front with a Craig Adams try but it looked as though Heworth had recaptured the lead when Lee Clark went over only for the effort to be disallowed as the referee had just blown for half-time.

When Paul Campbell went over for Cottingham and Benson converted to put Cottingham 14-6 up, Heworth were in deep trouble against one of their fellow stugglers.

But Gavin Grant got over in the corner on the hour to reduce the arrears.

However, Heworth were caught out when they failed to deal with a high kick in the final minute and Barker scored a try which Benson improved.

Updated: 11:05 Monday, October 13, 2003