Crosfields 10-20 Heworth. NCL Division 1 Rd 3. Sat 29.3.25.

Heworth once again travelled across the hills this week to Warrington side Crosfields, who have endured a tough start to their campaign and are still looking for their first league points. It was a changed Heworth team, youth filling in the gaps admirably again and as last week a proud moment following the Clarke/Barnard family outing last week Scott's son Max made his full debut starting on the wing. It would be a debut to remember for very differing reasons from his first touch to what would follow!

On a gloomy wet day Heworth started the brighter of the sides and after only 6 mins a delicate George Elliott chip over was caught on the full by Dan Clarke who was held up 2m short. Crosfields would lose the ball on play 3 allowing more offensive pressure but Heworth couldn't turn it into points. Crosfields kicked long to get some breathing space but a great return from Fraser West ensured the pressure was still firmly on. After 15 mins the first score came completely against the run of play. With a harmless enough looking scrum on their own 10m line Crosfields went wide to their centre Luke Walker who stepped left towards Clarke and Rhodes who came together to make the tackle but somehow managed to collide at the same time. This gave Walker a yard of space and he went 80m to score a fine individual try, converted by Brad Stanway. It could have got much better for the hosts when 5 mins later a last tackle grubber bounced up perfect for Walker who seemingly only had to fall over the line but inadvertently dropped the ball.

This fired the Villagers up it appeared and on the next set Ben Barnard took the ball on the full and burst would be tacklers to feed Harrison Briggs who made more metres to set up great position. The ball was shipped right and Billy Sturdy split his men to finally get the boys on the board. No kick but at 4-6 we were well in the game as we approached half time.

The second half started in similar fashion, Heworth taking the game to the hosts, the Villagers pack was very dominant the whole game and never let their grip loosen. On 45 mins Briggs was held up from a left shift, handover. On the 3rd Crosfields would again spill the ball under immense pressure. The ball was fed right and found Rhodes, who still had work to do. He beat 3 cover defenders and whilst in the final tackle and facing the wrong way had the presence to spin and reach out and ground the ball. He would then send a beautifully floated wind assisted conversion to put Heworth ahead.

It got better on 54 mins again after good pressure a move appeared to run into a cul-de-sac but Harley Axe had the vision to turn back against the play and jink his way past 3 defenders to score a try to reward his usual hard working stint. No kick this time.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 mins, Crosfields getting short change from some resolute defending. The next play would seal the points for Heworth though. Having been held up just short twice it would fall to Elliot to spot half a gap and split the advancing defence with a well weighted grubber that Clarke had also read very well, and was the gleeful recipient of. Rhodes tagged on the 2 and Heworth appeared home and done (definitely not dry!).

Although Crosfields would have the last say, again Walker the beneficiary of a clever kick to the corner, it was too little too late as Heworth took home a deserved 2 points.

Ben Barnard rightly took the man of the match, again. There were lots of good points and some great supporting roles, Jack Sadler and Liam Watling up front leading the way and Max Rhodes who grew into the game and also in confidence as the game progressed. Final score Crosfields 10- 20 Heworth .

Next Saturday we welcome fellow NCL founding members Egremont to Elmpark Way in round 4 of Division 1.

As ever, please come along and show your support.

Match report- Paul Harrison.