A DEVASTATING first-half scoring spell enabled York Acorn to stun their hosts and recent Challenge Cup conquerors Featherstone Lions on the way to a fine 44-18 win.

The victory was built upon that dominant first period showing which saw Acorn head into the interval 28 points to the good.

The visitors' first foray into their opponent's half brought the game's first points.

On six minutes, the half back pairing of Chilton and Brown combined perfectly to send Acorn's man-of-the-match full back Joe Budd into space close to the Fev line. He evaded several would-be tacklers before scoring a try which Chilton goaled to put Acorn 6-0 ahead.

The away side doubled their lead on 10 minutes when a Chilton cross-field kick was caught on the fly by winger Callum Worthington, who scored out wide. Chilton duly converted to give the visitors a worthy 12-0 lead.

Acorn's next score came on the half hour mark when substitute hooker Lewis Lord darted over from close range to give them a 16-0 advantage.

Quick thinking by the ever-alert Lord saw Acorn stretch that lead to 22-0. He darted from the acting half role before supplying the try-scoring pass to the supporting Tom Hill, who raced over for a Chilton goaled try.

With the first half entering its final five minutes, Acorn struck again.

More quality approach play from the Chilton and Brown combination ended with the supporting Budd racing into space before picking out Josh Parker on the wing with a gem of a pass. He in turn squeezed in at the corner for a great try.

Chilton added an excellent touchline conversion to give Acorn a healthy 28-0 half-time lead.

A key element in the first half for Acorn was their discipline, which saw them enjoy a healthy penalty count in their favour.

One of the rare occasions Acorn were adjudged to be guilty came on the 50 minute mark.

Featherstone managed to create some space out wide and freed up winger Lewis Jackson who went over for a try.

Acorn's Lord was adjudged to have committed a piece of foul play as Jackson was in the act of scoring his try. The referee awarded a penalty try before sin-binning Lord and giving Fev stand off Ian Jackson two kicks at goal. He proceeded to convert both, giving the hosts their first points of the game and cutting Acorn's lead to 28-8.

The York side compounded this scrappy period when, on 55 minutes, indecision in their in-goal area allowed a hopeful kick from the hosts to evade the Acorn defence and allow Fev winger Connor Paver to score an unconverted try.

With forwards Jack Byrne, Matthew Woods and Reece Rushworth to the fore, Acorn managed to reassert themselves on the hour mark as their quick silver winger got his hands on the ball before racing clear from halfway to score a try which Chilton goaled.

Worthington completed his hat-trick when repeating the dose five minutes later, to give Acorn a 38-12 lead – despite Chilton being unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.

A 72nd-minute trademark try by Featherstone hooker Scott Glassell, which Ian Jackson added the goal to, cut Acorn's lead to 20.

The final score came at the death and it was fitting that it involved several of Acorns impressive performers.

The initial play was started by an excellent clearing run from his own try line by Acorn teenage winger Josh Parker.

Several play the balls later, the visitors had managed to move into the hosts' 20 metre zone. They executed a well constructed planned move involving several pairs of hands, culminating in Hill and Chilton putting Budd in for a Chilton goaled try.