Heworth 24 vs 18 Shaw Cross Sharks. NCL Division 1 Rd 9. Saturday 31.5.25.

In National Conference League Division 1 Heworth returned to winning ways with a hard earned 24-18 victory over Shaw Cross Sharks at Elmpark Way. It was a disjointed and often scrappy encounter with errors and indiscipline in evidence from both sides but it was the Villagers who, despite not being at their fluent best, always looked the most likely to prevail and ultimately fully deserved their success.

Heworth opened the scoring after seven minutes when some impressive handling created an overlap on the right edge for centre Billy Sturdy to go over by the corner flag for an unconverted score. Four minutes later home second rower Ben Dent was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul and the Sharks capitalised on the extra man advantage with a touchdown by winger Nathan Wright goaled by scrum half Evan Stephenson to put them ahead for the only time in the match. On 18 minutes the hosts restored their lead when winger Joe Varo snapped up possession from a loose carry 60 metres out and raced away down the left flank before turning inside and weaving his way past several defenders to touch down by the posts for a fine individual effort. Stand off Danny Allan added the simple conversion to put them four points in front. Just four minutes later they increased their advantage when another quick shift to the right saw Sturdy again prove unstoppable to cross for his second try and substitute Jack Sadler. added the extras to make it 16-6. The remaining 18 minutes up to the break developed into a real arm wrestle but despite strenuous efforts from both teams neither was able to further trouble the scoreboard.

The opening quarter hour of the second half was a similar affair but it was the visitors who got themselves back into the match with a try by full back Lewis Bayliss which was improved by Stephenson to reduce the deficit to four points. The turning point came on 62 minutes when Sharks centre Brandon French following a high tackle was sin binned for repeated offending. The Black and Whites were quick to seize their opportunity and four minutes later centre Adam Dent followed up to touch down a pin point grubber kick through the defensive line from scrum half Liam Jackson to make it 20-12. With ten minutes remaining Varo looked certain to score after another strong run down the left edge but was hauled down short of the line. From the resulting play the ball the Villagers produced a trademark flowing handling movement to the opposite flank which led to winger Maddox Jeffery diving over by the corner flag to virtually seal the contest. In a frantic final period second rower Mark Sheard's touchdown and Stephenson's third conversion three minutes from time proved too little too late for the Dewsbury outfit.

Billy Sturdy took Heworth's Man of the match award with Liam Jackson, Adam Dent and Jack Sadler in close contention.

The Villagers take a break next week for the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley and are next in action on Saturday 14 June when they make the first of two long trips to Cumbria to face Kells.

Match report-Dave Ward