HEWORTH ARLC went third in National Conference League group ‘G’ after an impressive 29-4 win at Beverley.

The Villagers produced their best display of the season so far to record a second successive victory.

On an extremely narrow pitch not suited to their usual expansive style of rugby, the Villagers, after an early setback, adapted their game to contain and eventually completely nullify their opponents’ attritional down-the-middle tactics to deservedly return home with the spoils.

It all looked promising for the hosts after two minutes when they registered their only points of the game with an unconverted try by wingman Lewis Miller.

Heworth though were undeterred and slowly eased their way into the match and got themselves onto the front foot with some solid and robust defending. Their hard-working pack matched the hosts’ forwards blow for blow, which pinned them back into their own half and denied them any scoring opportunities.

On 18 minutes, stand-off Danny Allan reduced the deficit to two points after slotting a penalty goal awarded for a high tackle.

Seven minutes later, the Villagers went in front when impressive substitute forward Ben Barnard broke through the home defence and sent loose forward Liam Richmond crashing over next to the posts for Allan to add the extras.

The momentum was now all with the visitors and they took full advantage of some ill-discipline from the hosts which allowed Allan to add two further penalty goals, one of which was from the halfway line. As half-time drew near, he knocked over a field goal to put them 13-4 ahead.

The Black and Whites were in no mood to give their opponents any sniff of a comeback and increased their advantage in the first minute of the second period. After quickly shifting the ball to the left, second-rower Harry Morland crossed for a well-worked try which Allan improved to put them firmly in the driving seat.

Heworth assumed full control of the remainder of the second half with the home side committing a plethora of unforced errors trying to play catch-up football. Ten minutes from time, second-rower Liam Watling put a neat kick behind the home line and NCL debutant wingman Lewis Minikin followed up to touch down in the right corner.

Three minutes later, Morland broke through down the middle of the field and drew the full-back before handing on to skipper Fraser West, who raced away to cross for the final try.

Allan’s sixth goal put the icing on the cake on a dominant performance by the jubilant Villagers.

Barnard’s strong running display, which provided a constant test for the hosts’ defence, earned him Heworth’s man-of-the-match award in an excellent all-round performance.

Heworth have no game next week before hosting Hull Dockers on June 26.

York Acorn, also in group ‘G’, had a blank weekend. They visit West Hull tomorrow (7pm).

In Yorkshire Men’s League division three, Heworth ‘A’ went down 36-16 to a well-organised Hunslet Parkside ‘A’ at Elmpark Way.

Loose forward Angus Ramsey crossed for two tries and winger Matt Sherringham-Lucas raced in from 80 metres.

Ben Thompson and Ricky James added a conversion apiece.