YORK Acorn made it three wins from four in the National Conference first division as they beat Dewsbury Moor 40-6.

The victory was built on an impressive first-half defensive showing, which saw Acorn repel several back-to-back sets as their hosts penned their visitors behind their own try line. This forced them to drop out from under their own posts on numerous occasions.

Crucially for Acorn, they managed to weather the storm and then struck several mortal blows that left the home side reeling.

Acorn fielded debutant forward Connor Page, promoted Alex Hardcastle from the A team to the bench to boost their pack and included centre Martin Pedersen Scott in their backs – due to the loss of Ryan Gallacher with a broken hand.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when, on four minutes, hooker James Mountford intercepted in his own half before racing 60 metres. Quick interchange play saw centre Jordan Potter and scrum half Lewis Brown combine to send man-of-the-match Anthony Chilton into space. He cut back across the flailing arms of several would-be tacklers before scoring a try he converted to put the blue and golds 6-0 in front.

Acorn doubled their lead on 12 minutes when prop forward Tim Stubbs crashed over from close range for a try goaled by Chilton.

Acorn then had to withstand long periods of pressure but – with loose forward Reece Rushworth, prop forward Page, centre Pedersen Scott and second rower Matt Woods to the fore – their defence was virtually impregnable throughout.

Not for the first time, frustration got the better of Dewsbury Moor and Acorn's arch poacher Lewis Brown snapped up an intercept close to the Acorn line. He set off on 80-metre run, leaving several chasers in his wake before scoring a try which Chilton once again added the extras to.

Dewsbury Moor briefly responded at the start of the second half when, on 46 minutes, their scrum half Aiden Ineson created space to score a try that he converted himself.

Acorn quickly snuffed out any thoughts of a home fight-back however. On 52 minutes, a Joe Budd clip through was eventually grounded by sub forward Lewis Lord for a try goaled once more by Chilton, giving Acorn a commanding 24-6 lead.

The York side further increased that advantage on 65 minutes when a side-step and pass from Chilton saw Mountford go over for an unconverted try that put the away side 28-6 ahead.

Chilton made amends for that missed conversion attempt when he moved Acorn into a 30-6 lead with a 69th-minute penalty goal.

Acorn benefitted from more Chilton inspired magic on 75 minutes. A Lord off-load was carried on by Chilton who produced a magical around-the-back pass to winger Joel Johnson who squeezed in at the corner for an unconverted try

The final score of the game came on 78 minutes when Chilton produced a near perfect cross-kick that allowed Rushworth to catch and go over under the posts for a try. Chilton added the simplest of conversions to give Acorn an emphatic 40-6 victory.