York Acorn Under-16s are just one win away from the Yorkshire Youth/West Riding first division title.

They produced a magnificent team performance to defeat their main rivals Hunslet Warriors 23-11 in the penultimate game of the season.

It was a match Acorn had to win as victory for Hunslet would have seen the Leeds outfit clinch the championship.

It will now go down to the wire with Acorn, Hunslet and Milford, who play both teams over the next week, still in with a chance.

Acorn had to claw their way back from 11-4 down against Hunslet.

Loose forward Mick Wildon was man of the match.

Try scorers for Acorn were Peter Fox (2), Matthew Irving and Andy Henson, who also kicked three goals and a field goal.

Acorn 'A' finished with just 11 players as they were beaten 38-14 at runaway Yorkshire League division four leaders Castleford Panthers 'A'.

They started with a bare 13 players and picked up injuries which decimated the team further, but still put up a creditable resistance.

Forwards Barry Fox and player-coach Mick Lumby led by example in a good team performance.

Acorn's points came from a brace of tries by winger Adam Endersby, goaled by stand off Craig Fox.

Acorn Under-14s gave their best display of the season to win 42-6 at home to Thornhill.

The man of the match award was shared by Martin Schofield and Tom Gargan. Simon Wadsworth scored a hat-trick of tries, Luke Noone got two and there was one apiece for Dan Holder and Tom Dunmore, who kicked seven goals.

Jason Smith was another hat-trick hero as Acorn Under-13s won 34-26 at Redhill.

Also on the scoresheet were Steven Mackley, Danny Brown and Adam Sellars. The Mackley twins kicked all the goals, Thomas three and Steven two.

Newly-crowned Yorkshire Junior League division three champions Acorn Under-15s finished their campaign on a low note when beaten 23-20 at Normanton.

Acorn's points came from tries by Matthew Withers, winger Craig Garnett, second rower Dave Knowles and man of the match Kev Brayshaw, with Chris Tinker kicking two goals.

Acorn Under-11s hit back from a 16-6 deficit to beat Upton 22-16.

Tries were scored by Matthew Fairclough (2), Mark Sanderson, Ross Varley and Adam Craven. Fairclough and Luke Watling added a goal each. Eddie Bedingham was their man of the match.

Ben Johnson was again the star for Acorn Under-9s as they beat Methley Warriors by 11 tries to four. He scored eight tries and made 28 tackles in a man of the match display.

Their other tries came from Josh Mortimer and Liam Wilkinson (2).

Acorn Under-18s ran out of steam in their away clash at Thornhill as they let slip a 12-10 half-time lead to eventually lose 38-12.

Most of their players had played for the club's senior teams the previous day which took its toll, their hosts running in 18 points in a five-minute spell during the second half.

Top performers were second rower Paul Payne who bagged a brace of tries and centre Shaun Gilmoor. Craig Fox kicked two goals.

Updated: 13:09 Tuesday, April 03, 2001