YORK Acorn ARLC showed they haven't given up on a second consecutive promotion with an excellent 30-20 victory at Thatto Heath.

The Blue and Golds went into the match in the bottom half of National Conference division one but, with a number of games in hand, are not out of the promotion reckoning.

They still have a mountain to climb, but it would have been a Mount Everest had they not put in such a triumphant display over the Pennines. And further credit should be due given the fact they did not let standards slip just a week after their memorable day in the sun away to Hull KR in the Challenge Cup.

Jonny Waldron might have been kept in check by Hull KR but he proved once again that at this level he is a constant danger. The winger claimed another hat-trick of tries, with two coming in the first half following kicks by Darren Callaghan and the third following a 50-metre dash in the second.

Davey Burns also crossed in the first half and, with youngster Tom Mackley kicking two goals, Acorn deservedly led 16-8 at half-time, the Crusaders' tries coming from winger Dave Gauchwin.

Kyle Palmer crossed soon after the break, with Andy Lee landing three goals for a 22-point lead, and, although Steve Brown and Dave Lloyd scored home tries goaled by Mike Woods, Acorn were not to be caught.

If Acorn are looking up, Heworth ARLC are anxiously looking over their shoulders after a 42-16 hammering at fellow stragglers Egremont Rangers in division two.

Victory would probably have ended any danger of the Villagers falling into the re-election zone for a third consecutive season, but they fell apart in an error-strewn second half.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It was very disappointing, especially after last week when we played so well against top of the league to then concede 42 points to the team second bottom.

"We started poorly to go 12-0 down but we pulled it back to 12-12 and were in a good position before we switched off and let them come back at us."

A try, conversion and penalty made it 20-12 to Rangers at half-time. Sykes added: "We were particularly poor in the second half. We had the slope and we thought we had a chance but our attacking was appalling. Apart from a Jon Coulson try, they dominated."

Heworth's first-half tries came from teeanger Paul Thompson, after Jamie Wright had picked up a loose ball, and Gavin Grant, who raced 40 yards after a Chris Smith off-load, with Mike Welsh goaling both.

Props Dan Briggs and Will Neary were the pick of their team while Leigh Rientoul did well, but Egremont won it easily with tries by Richard Farrar, David Hartley, Darren Block, John Jackson (2) and Rhys Davies and nine goals for Block.

Updated: 10:17 Monday, March 20, 2006