YORK Acorn Under-14s beat Heworth 18-16 in this year's Challenge Shield match-up.

The Challenge Shield is an annual event, pitting together coaches Craig Lucas' Acorn and Dan Briggs' Heworth outfits as they progress through the age ranks.

In the five years since its inception, Acorn have won four to Heworth's one.

Heworth hosted the match this time round and took a 12-4 lead into the break.

But the visitors' forwards got going in the second period and Heworth struggled to handle them, Acorn turning the screw as Ethan Sutcliffe went crashing over and Adam Lee touching down.

The game was sealed when Josh Sherlock made a 40-metre interception to run in the key try.

It caps off a good season for Acorn, who also won the Yorkshire Junior League division four title.