Kingstone Press National Conference League Division One: Blackbrook 16 York Acorn 50

YORK Acorn gave their hopes of an end-of-season play-off spot a huge boost when they thumped bottom-of-the-table St Helens-based Blackbrook.

Fielding a side with seven changes from the previous week's home win over Hull Dockers, Acorn got off to a flying start when, on three minutes, scrum half Lewis Brown put second-rower Tom Hill over from close range for a try that was improved by Acorn's man of the match, full back Matthew Chilton.

Acorn stretched their lead to 12-0 four minutes later when a clip kick by impressive loose forward Tim Elliott found its way into the home side's in-goal area and centre Ryan Gallacher was on hand to score a try that Chilton added the extras to.

On 22 minutes, from an attacking scrum ten metres out, the ball found its way into the hands of Chilton, who left several would-be tacklers in his wake with a jinking run before scoring a try close to the posts, which he improved to make it 18-0.

Blackbrook hit back on 29 minutes when full back Jordan Darwin intercepted close to his own line and showed blistering pace to go 80 metres for a try which centre Aaron Hewitt converted.

But the visitors re-addressed the balance on 33 minutes when they created something out of nothing to score a try in the corner by winger Josh Thompson.

In the tightest of spaces, somehow the ball was kept alive on the fifth and last tackle by both Lewis Lord and Gareth Singleton before Thompson scored, Chilton putting Acorn 24-6 in front with the subsequent kick.

Not long afterwards, Blackbrook reduced the lead when a clever lofted kick out wide was caught by winger Chris Wynn, who touched down for an unconverted score.

Right on the stroke of half-time, however, Acorn effectively sealed this contest when a break by stand-off Lord was continued deep into the opposition's half and, several hands later, Gallacher scored an unconverted try close to the corner flag.

Leading 28-10 at the break, Acorn increased their advantage on 45 minutes when a a powerful break by Singleton set up a great attacking position for second-rower Reece Rushworth to score a try that was converted by Chilton.

On 55 minutes, Blackbrook's best player, scrum half Jordan Welsby, produced a quality moment of skill, chipping over the Acorn defensive line on halfway before re-gathering and, several interchanges later, Welsby nipped in for a try that Hewitt converted.

Any hopes of a fightback were quashed on 66 minutes, however, when Chilton produced a stunning 40-20 kick.

Chilton then raced to collect the ball before taking a quick tap restart and racing in for an unopposed try against a bewildered Blackbrook outfit before adding the extras for a commanding 40-16 lead.

On 72 minutes, yet another Singleton break and offload to Thompson ended with substitute forward Harry Bromwich racing over for his second try in two games.

Acorn completed their scoring five minutes later, hitting the 50-point mark when hard-working prop forward Adam Endersby crashed over from acting half, Chilton then popping his seventh goal in nine attempts.

Top performers for an in-form Acorn, who will hope to both extinguish any lingering relegation chances and at the same time try to cement their hopes of a top-six finish when they host Shaw Cross next weekend, were forwards Elliott Bulmer, Endersby and Rushworth and centre Singleton.

Also the tackling of forwards Rushworth and Tim Elliott, along with that of stand-off Lord, was pivotal in snuffing out the Blackbrook attack.