IN their first home game back in the National Conference League, Heworth, fielding a much-changed side due to injuries and unavailability went down 34-6 to Leigh East.

The Villagers showed no lack of effort but a disjointed performance saw them struggle throughout to penetrate the visitors' defence.

In addition their cause was not helped by the inability to control possession and the concession of too many needless penalties.

The visitors, superbly led by hooker and man of the match Jordan Hellam were quick to expose the home side's weaknesses and posted three tries in each half to run out comfortable winners.

Heworth are now two defeats from two in division three.

The opening quarter hour was keenly contested with both sides striving to gain the ascendancy and it was Easts who finally broke the deadlock after 17 minutes with a try by full-back Daniel Griffiths converted by Hellam.

On 32 minutes Griffiths was over the line again and four minutes from the break Hellam put them firmly in control with a third touchdown and, with the hooker goaling both scores. the visitors led 18-0 at half-time.

The second period followed a similar pattern with Heworth being unable to find fluency and on 52 minutes Leigh went further ahead when Griffiths completed his hat-trick.

On the hour-mark, stand-off Adam Holland went over for their fifth try and Hellam added the extras to make it 28-0.

On 68 minutes the Villagers finally showed a glimpse of what they are capable of with centre Chris Lopez gathering a well directed cross-field kick by scrum-half James Morland and putting debutant winger James Gill over in the corner.

Stand-off George Elliott added a fine touchline conversion. The visitors, though, had the last word with Hellam going in for his second try to complete a personal tally of 16 points and Holland improved to make it 34-6.

A strong performance by veteran second-row Liam Watling earned him Heworth's man-of-the-match award.

Meanwhile, York Acorn 'A' got their pre-season Yorkshire Men's League Forty20 Cup campaign off to a good start with a 52-10 victory over Wakefield Hawks. Benjamin Dale, Bradley Winter, Connor Page, Reece Arthur and Timmy Elliott were among the try-scorers.

Player-coach Jack Stearman was also on the mark for New Earswick All Blacks but they lost their opening group game 34-18 to Brighouse Rangers.