YORK Acorn got their National Conference League division one home campaign off to a winning start – eeking out an attritional 6-4 win over a physical Normanton Knights side.

In wet, windy conditions it was no surprise that this game became a tense, defence-dominated encounter.

In the opening quarter neither side were able to control the ball effectively and the completed sets column was virtually non-existent.

Throughout this period of the game Acorn relied heavily on the work of their forwards, especially props Stubbs and Endersby with ball in hand, while the tactical kicking game of stand-off Anthony Chilton relieved the pressure at vital times.

Chilton's control of the game made it hard for Normanton just when they wanted to build pressure at the business end of the park.

Another Acorn player to catch the eye in attack was acting half Lewis Lord, whose darting runs kept Normanton's defence honest.

As always, Acorn were well led by loose forward Reece Rushworth, who received excellent support from the second-row pairing of Jordan Hyde and Matthew Woods.

Centre Ryan Gallacher mopped up anything that managed to come around the back, as did fellow centre Jordan Potter.

The only score of a dour first half came on the 17-minute mark,when good approach play and a quick play-the-ball by full back Jake Calam released centre Gallacher. He expertly picked his way through the visitors' defence to register a quality try, which Chilton goaled to put his troops 6-0 ahead at the interval.

After the break, the game fell back into a similar pattern as both sides tried to grind their way up the pitch before attempting to poach a try from close range.

Normanton finally breached the Acorn defensive fortress when solid carries from prop David Evans and the second-row pairing of Adam Banwell and Alex Barker put them close to the try line.

Acorn's defence was unlocked when a fumble close to the Blue and Golds' line gifted the visitors their opportunity to score.

Winger Aaron Butterfield capitalised on the field position, squeezing in at the corner for an unconverted try to cut Acorn's lead to 6-4.

Despite several close calls – aided by handling errors at either end of the park – there were no further additions to the scoreline and Acorn held out for a hard-earned victory.