Heworth 30 vs 14 Ince Rose Bridge. NCL Division 1 Rd 16. Saturday 2.8.25

In National Conference League Division 1 Heworth , despite a shaky start, staged a remarkable comeback to turn a fourteen point deficit into a stunning 30-14 success over fellow promotion contenders Ince Rose Bridge in an absorbing encounter at Elmpark Way. In so doing the Villagers leapfrogged their opponents into second place in the table, with a game in hand, to put themselves in a strong position with eight matches remaining.

Prior to kick-off a minute's applause was held in memory of long serving Heworth player and legend Rod Skelton who recently passed away.

It looked ominous for the hosts when the visitors opened the scoring in the third minute with a try by impressive full back T J Boyd converted by scrum half Mason Fillingham, who also added a penalty goal nine minutes later to put them 8-0 ahead. A runaway victory looked on the cards on 14 minutes when centre Jamie Malone went in for their second touchdown which was improved by Fillingham to make it 14-0. The next quarter of an hour was evenly contested before the Villagers finally found some cohesion and after creating strong pressure on the visitor's line scrum half Liam Jackson sent second rower Liam Richmond striding through a gap to touch down. Substitute Jack Sadler added the extras to reduce the deficit to eight points. Things got even better six minutes later when some crisp handling led to centre George Elliott bursting over on the right edge and racing round close to the posts for Sadler to slot the simple conversion and put them within two points. The momentum was now all with the home side and on 39 minutes centre Harrison Briggs followed up to touch down pin point kick from substitute Liam Watling which Sadler again goaled for a narrow 18-14 lead at the break.

Defences were dominant at the start of the second half with both sides matching each other set for set in an effort to gain the ascendancy and as the clock ticked down to the hour mark it was looking like the next score would prove vital. Finally on 63 minutes it was the Black and Whites who broke the deadlock when Elliott broke through on the halfway line before handing on to the supporting Sadler who raced away to cross under the posts and

tag on the two pointer to make it 24-14. The Wigan based outfit though were not ready to throw in the towel and the Villagers still had plenty of defending to do but they proved up to the task and with three minutes remaining they put the icing on the cake when a fine cut out pass from Elliott sent winger George Burton crashing over by the right corner flag and Sadler completed a perfect afternoon with the boot to round off a well deserved victory.

George Elliott was voted Man of the match for the Villagers in an excellent all round team performance in which every man played his part.

Next Saturday its the club reunion round as Heworth entertain Cumbrian visitors Kells at Elmpark Way (2.30p.m.)  

match report - Dave Ward