After years of playing second fiddle to Heworth, York Acorn can now claim to be the top amateur rugby league team in York.

They beat their cross-city rivals 29-15 in the first-ever National Conference League meeting between the sides following Heworth's drop into division two.

But while the players from both sides can take praise for a fine game, the real man of the match for many was grade one referee Russell Smith, whose application of the rules, allied to his understanding of the players' needs, was superb.

The game came alive on ten minutes when excellent Acorn stand-off, Danny Liddell cut through from 20 yards to notch a great individual try under the posts. Winger Kevin Brundett added the conversion.

That lead didn't last long as Heworth snapped up a loose ball close to the Acorn line following a home error before sending the ball out to in-form forward Dan Briggs, who crashed over on 15 minutes, full-back Dave Carling goaling.

Heworth sustained their purple patch with a finely taken drop goal by scrum-half Mick Harrison.

Acorn then wrestled the initiative with a Brundett penalty and the next ten minutes saw Acorn dominant but a combination of good Heworth defence and poor decision-making thwarted the hosts.

Heworth then rallied to open up a three point half-time lead following two more Carling penalties.

Heworth had been well served by Briggs and Jason Gatus, while Harrison was their best back.

For Acorn, second rower Dave Norman had played like a Trojan, supported by teenager Paul Payne, with Liddell livening up the attack.

The second half belonged to Acorn and in particular loose forward Rob Lee, whose combination with Liddell and man of the match scrum-half Johnny Waldron proved too much for the Villagers.

On 53 minutes, following a bit of indiscipline by Lee Clarke, Lee cut through before slipping the ball to Waldron, who outsprinted the cover on a 30-yard run. Brundett goaled and Liddell put over a field goal.

Acorn increased their lead on the hour when Lee break was finished off by Liddell, Brundett goaling.

Heworth got their game back on track and reduced Acorn's lead to six points with a try in the corner by winger Gavin Grant on 68 minutes.

At the other end, another Lee break saw hooker Lee Frank take on the visitors' cover before being hauled down inches from the line by a great tackle from Harrison.

But this was only a brief respite for Heworth as Acorn surged again and their keeping the ball alive on the sixth tackle paid dividends when winger Tim Wilcock went over for a 71st-minute try in the corner.

Replacement kicker Stephen Waldron put over the conversion before rounding off the game's scoring with a last-second penalty goal that secured a long-awaited derby success.

Updated: 12:28 Monday, October 29, 2001