Heworth 04 vs 14 Wath Brow Hornets. NCL Premier Division round 16 rearranged fixture. Saturday 29.8.26.

In the National Premier League Heworth's young side again produced a commendable eighty minute performance before finally going down 14-4 to Cumbrian outfit Wath Brow Hornets in a close fought encounter at Elmpark Way. On a pitch made greasy by intermittent heavy showers which made handling difficult both sides were intent on playing open running rugby which led to plenty of errors but nevertheless made for an entertaining contest in the testing conditions.

In an evenly contested first half it was the visitors who opened the scoring on ten minutes with a try by prop Conor Molyneaux converted by second rower Jake Moore. The next 25 minutes was a real arm wrestle with both teams matching each other set for set until with five minutes remaining Heworth scrum half Noah Handley found a gap in the visitors defensive line 25 metres out and showed some neat footwork to cross for an unconverted score to reduce the deficit to 6-4 at the break.

With all to play for both teams came out with renewed energy at the start of the second half and on 47 minutes it was the Hornets who extended their advantage with a touchdown for centre Reuben Butterworth by the left corner flag and just six minutes later fellow centre Fran King went over on the opposite edge. Both conversions were unsuccessful but the visitors had got themselves in the box seat with a handy 14-4 lead. Right on the hour mark the hosts came close to responding when winger Riley Barstow hacked on a loose ball on the halfway line and looked likely to follow up and score but was foiled by a covering defender who got a foot in to force the ball dead. The final twenty minutes saw both sides exert strenuous efforts to add to their tally but despite creating further scoring chances defences held firm and the visitors went home with the spoils.

Noah Handley took the Man of the match award for the Villagers with Kauri Enoka, Harrison Briggs and Tom Clarke in close contention.

Next Saturday Heworth face another stiff task for survival in the top flight when third placed Halifax outfit Siddal are the visitors to Elmpark Way. (2.30p.m.)

Report-Dave Ward