HEWORTH ARLC's inconsistent start to the National Conference League division three season continued as they slumped to a 42-24 home defeat to Batley Boys.

The ninth-placed Villagers have now lost five of their opening eight fixtures, with their three wins coming in the last four outings.

Heworth trailed 18-10 at the break, but looked to be on the verge of a comeback after reducing the deficit to two points five minutes into the second period. Batley, though, aided by a high penalty count and some sloppy defending, posted four converted tries to run out deserved winners.

The Black and Whites started impressively, with scrum-half Liam Jackson putting stand-off James Morland over for an unconverted score after only two minutes.

Four minutes later, the returning James Gill went over following some slick handling and George Elliott row added a fine conversion from wide out.

Batley hit back on 12 minutes with a try by strong running prop and man-of-the-match Gav Davis, goaled by stand-off Adam Bingham.

The Villagers then hit the self-destruct button and a string of penalties gifted their opponents easy field position, of which they took full advantage to take the lead just before the half-hour, with hooker Josh Knowles touching down.

Two minutes from the break, Batley went further ahead through loose-forward Aaron James. Bingham adding the extras to both scores.

Liam Watling got Heworth back in the match shortly after the restart, and Elliott's conversion reduced the deficit to two points.

But that was as good as it got as the ill-discipline returned. Bingham crossed for a self-goaled effort on 54 minutes and Davis went over for his second try eight minutes later, with Bingham converting.

The hosts responded with quarter of an hour remaining when debutant wingman Tim Waqadau gathered a neat kick by full-back Fraser West to go over in the corner for an unconverted score.

However, Batley put the game to bed as Davis exposed the Villagers' defensive frailties to bring his try tally to four with two quickfire touchdowns. Bingham improved both tries to complete a perfect afternoon with the boot.

Heworth's man-of-the-match Waqadau's second effort right on the final whistle proved scant consolation.

New Earswick All Blacks have gone top of the early Yorkshire Men's League premier division standings after a 19-0 victory at Nottingham Outlaws.

Will Holmes made the breakthrough five minutes before the break, touching down from captain Sean Malarkey's offload, and half-back Liam Gargan converted.

Gargan increased the advantage shortly afterwards, dotting down from Malarkey's neat chip kick.

After a sloppy start to the second half, man-of-the-match player-coach Stearman intercepted a panic offload 35 metres out to run in his fourth try of the season. Gargan converted to make it 16-0.

And All Blacks - after defending a goalline barrage, holding up Outlaws three times in three sets - saw the game out as Gargan added a penalty and a one-pointer with five minutes to go.

York Acorn 'A' lost 36-26 at home to Keighley Albion in YML division two, while Heworth 'A' lost a hastily-arranged friendly with Wetherby Bulldogs 32-6.

The scheduled visitors to Elmpark Way, Drighlington 'A', were unable to raise a side for their NCL Alliance Group 2 game. Liam Braithwaite scored the Villagers' solitary try, converted by Gary Watkinson. Jamie Price was Heworth's man of the match.