Heworth 16 vs 17 Wigan St Judes. NCL Premier Division round 12. Saturday 20.6.26.

In the National Premier League Heworth came agonisingly close to ending a six-match losing streak before being edged out by Wigan St Judes 17-16 in an absorbing encounter on a hot afternoon at Elmpark Way. The Villagers held a narrow 10-6 lead at the break before the visitors hit back with two tries in the opening ten minutes of the second half and then went on to add a 65^th minute drop goal to give themselves a seven point advantage at 

17-10. In a frantic closing period the hosts showed plenty of character to rally and  close the gap to just a single point with a converted try on 71 minutes but despite creating a number of further try scoring opportunities were just not able to close out the contest.

Heworth opened strongly, dominating possession and field position and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring after twelve minutes when, following a scrum in centre field thirty metres out a quick shift to the right led to centre Adam Dent producing a smart offload for winger Zach Towse to go over by the corner flag for an unconverted score. The hosts continued to have the better of the territorial battle and with the visitors struggling to find any cohesion they went close on several occasions before finally, on 32 minutes increasing their advantage when second rower Ben Barnard burst through the defensive line from forty-five metres out before selling an outrageous dummy and storming away to go over under the posts for a fine individual try. Hooker Jack Sadler added the extras for a 10-0 lead. It looked as though things would remain that way until the break but the Saints had other ideas and with just seconds remaining the Villagers failed to secure a wickedly bouncing  ball behind their try line and full back Lewis Melling pounced to score. Prop Kenny Baker slotted the conversion to reduce the deficit to four points and make it all to play for in the second half. 

St Judes came out after the break with renewed intent and with barely five minutes on the clock centre Connor Parkinson went over for their second touchdown which Baker goaled to nudge them two points in front. Six minutes later it all started to look ominous for the hosts when winger Harry Parkinson crossed to make it 16-10. Heworth though, as in past weeks, rallied to show their battling qualities to get back into the arm wrestle and it was nip and tuck for the next quarter of an hour before visitors substitute Danny Cassidy edged them a further point ahead with a drop goal. The Villagers, however kept plugging away and their efforts were rewarded on 71 minutes when stand off Dan Clarke showed some neat footwork to step over from close range and Sadler's conversion set up a tense nail-biting finish. In a frantic closing period in which a couple of close calls didn't go their way the Black and Whites exerted strenuous efforts to achieve superiority which led to them creating a number of scoring chances but were just unable to maintain their composure with errors at vital times proving costly and the visitors clung on to take the spoils. 

Prop Jonny Payne took Heworth's Man of the Match Award with Liam Richmond, Harrison Briggs and Kuari Enoka in close contention 

Next Saturday Heworth make the short trip to Castleford to face fellow strugglers Lock Lane in a must win game. (2.30p.m.)   

Match report-Dave Ward