A STUNNING late fight back earned York Acorn ARLC a 30-28 victory over Hull side Skirlaugh in the National Conference premier division.

The Blue and Golds trailed 26-10 after 51 minutes of the Thanet Road clash, but hit back to claim the seventh win of their debut season in the amateur game’s top tier.

The incredible victory was sealed with a stunning 78th minute penalty from the halfway line from the boot of hooker Johnny Liddell.

Skirlaugh had set the early pace, opening the scoring with a fifth minute penalty from loose forward Lee Waterman.

Waterman repeated the feat on 18 and 25 minutes to make it 6-0.

The visitors also bagged the game’s first try, second-rower Shaun Wildbore crossing on 26 minutes with Waterman converting.

The lead was 18-0 on 33 minutes when winger Danny Moss crossed and Waterman added the extras.

Acorn finally got into the game with a scorching 50-metre run to the line by full-back Leigh Rientoul and his try was converted by Liddell.

Two minutes before half-time second-rower Mike Embleton charged over for an unconverted score to make it 18-10 at the break.

However, Waterman kicked a penalty and then converted his own try at the start of the second half to make it 26-10 to the visitors.

Acorn centre Ben Jones started the come back with a try converted by Liddell.

A fine team effort created a score for substitute Joe Budd and Liddell’s goal cut the lead to four points.

Skirlaugh then seemed to have sealed the points with a Waterman penalty on 68 minutes.

But substitute forward Danny Caldwell turned the game on its head with a 76th minute try and Liddell goaled to tie the scores.

After a series of narrow defeats, Acorn held their nerve to win the decisive penalty, which Liddell kicked from 50 metres out.