SCOTT RHODES has guided his Heworth ARLC underdogs to the National Conference League Group 'G' title - anything now is a bonus, he says.

The division three Villagers were the lowest-ranked side in the division - regionalised for 2021 in a bid to minimise pandemic disruption - but secured top spot against the odds at the weekend with a win over bogey team Drighlington.

Heworth now embark on a play-offs knock-out campaign with 14 other first- and second-placed sides from the seven divisions.

Tomorrow, in a fixture put back by mutual consent to 3pm, the Villagers host Lock Lane at Elmpark Way.

“Credit goes to the lads really,"said Rhodes on his side's group win. "They’ve come in this year and worked their socks off. They’re a committed group of players.

“We had a goal between ourselves at the start of the year to win the group and we’ve done that. You can’t really ask for anything more.

“To win a group as a division three side, nobody gave us a chance. It’s been great so far.

“These play-offs - it is what it is. We will try to win but anything now is a bonus to us."

Possibly Heworth's highlight of term so far was their nail-biting 14-13 win at cross-city rivals and premier division outfit York Acorn.

After being 12-0 down at the break, Acorn battled back to level before both sides traded drop goals to take the derby to extra time.

In the second period of five minutes, former York City Knight Liam Jackson put over a drop goal to spark a pitch invasion from the delirious Heworth contingent.

“If it had gone the other way, you’d have seen double that," Rhodes said. “I think the crowd made it electric.

“We know the amateur game in York is booming. I’ve watched rugby since six, seven years old and I’ve never seen anything like that.

“It was just great to be involved in, and credit to Josh (Mortimer) and Nick Caldwell for their part. They’ve put a good side together there.

“Massive respect for both sides," he added of the game. "The players that took the field that night, I don’t think they could have given any more. They both went at it for 90 minutes to win it with a Liam Jackson drop goal.

“I saw Liam training all week, working on his drop goals - which he never really does - but he was slotting them over from all over the place.

“What a way to finish.

“I thought on the night, the better side won. I don’t think they caused us many issues until Tyler Craig got his sin-binning.

“We had three or four chances to score tries and put the game to bed, and Danny Allan missed a kick.

“Credit to Acorn. They came back and made a real game of it."

Heworth will be without Jack Aldous, Harry Aldous and the recovering Liam Richmond.

Tyler Craig will have a late fitness test.

Liam Watling is carrying a knock but expected to move into the middles, where Heworth are short for the weekend. He will be joined there by Danny Allan, who moves in from the halves.

Ben Dent will go in at half-back as Jonny Cambridge comes back into the side and Jack Earl gets his first start.