COACH Alfie Hill pledged to “go back to the drawing board” after his under-strength York Acorn ARLC side were beaten 50-8 at Leigh East.

The Blue and Golds are third from bottom of the National Conference premier division and Hill admitted they are now engaged in a “dogfight” for survival.

The visitors took a third-minute lead on Saturday, with winger Johnny Waldron crossing in the corner.

However, Leigh hit back to lead 16-4 on 20 minutes before impressive teenage centre Mark Sanderson showed good footwork to cross for a second unconverted Acorn try.

A six-minute burst from Leigh propelled the hosts to 32-8 in front at half-time and, with injuries piling up, Acorn were unable to respond after the break.

Scott Rhodes was Acorn’s man of the match.

Meanwhile, Heworth lost 44-12 at Milford Marlins in division one.

The Villagers led 6-0 after four minutes thanks to a try by man of the match Luke Judson, converted by Adam Jobling, but they trailed 24-6 at the break.

Heworth’s Jon Jewitt got the first score of the second half, Jobling converting, but the home side bagged a further four tries.

* Former York star Jamie Benn scored two tries in a man of the match performance for Scotland in their 104-0 victory over Italy in the European Cup.

Ex-Knights ace Lee Paterson also scored for the Scots.

Sean Hesketh and Luke Ambler, who were both on York’s books last season, starred in Ireland’s 82-0 win over Serbia. Hesketh scored a try and kicked four goals, while Ambler touched down twice.

Former York winger Peter Fox, meanwhile, figured for England in their 48-12 win over Wales.