Heworth 36-16 Egremont. Division 1 round 4. Saturday 5.4.25.

In National Conference League Division 1 Heworth lifted themselves up to fourth place in the table with a hard earned 36-16 victory over long standing Cumbrian rivals Egremont Rangers at Elmpark Way. After an evenly contested first half in which both sides notched two tries apiece it was the Villagers who held a slender 12-10 lead at the break. Despite a determined and spirited effort by the Whitehaven outfit it was the hosts who held sway in the second period after going on to post four further touchdowns whilst restricting their opponents to just a solitary consolation score.

Heworth started impressively, exerting pressure on the visitor's line and took the lead in the fourth minute through centre George Elliott who forced his way over from close range direct from acting half on the right edge. Winger Max Rhodes slotted an excellent touchline conversion. The Villagers continued to create plenty of possession and territory but were unable to turn it into points which affected their cohesion and led to them conceding too many needless penalties and gifting their opponents good field position. Rangers seized their opportunity to get themselves back into the contest on 27 minutes with a try by stand off Kye Beckett to reduce the deficit to two points and just seven minutes later they went 10-6 ahead with a touchdown from forward Matty Henson, improved by scrum half Matt Bewsher. With only a couple of minutes to go before the interval Heworth hit back to restore their lead when second rower Harrison Briggs collected an attempted chip-kick over the defensive line thirty-five metres out and strode away before wrong footing the full back to cross for a fine opportunist score. Rhodes added the extras for a narrow 12-10 advantage at the break.

For the second consecutive week the Black and Whites came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half and went further in front after only three minutes when substitute Jack Sadler and second rower Ben Barnard combined to send Elliott charging away for his second try. Five minutes later full back Fraser West fielded a last tackle kick by the visitors on the halfway line and fed debutant winger Joe Varo who blasted his way down centre field past several would be tacklers before handing on to the supporting Sadler who crossed under the posts for another impressive effort.

Rhodes slotted both conversions to make it 24-10. The Villagers were now firmly in control and on 68 minutes stand off Dan Clarke as on hand to gather a high attacking kick thirty metres from his own line and race away to outpace the chasing defenders and go over in the right corner for an excellent individual try. Five minutes later it was Varo who posted their final touchdown after breaking away down the left edge and rounding his way under the posts for Rhodes to tag on the easy two pointer and put them out of sight at 34-10. Egremont though, to their credit had battled away manfully but were thwarted by a solid defensive display from the Villagers before their persistence was eventually rewarded when, with three minutes remaining, Bewsher crossed for a consolation try which he improved himself to make it 34-16. It was the hosts however who had the final say with just seconds left on the clock Rhodes stroked over a penalty goal to complete a satisfactory afternoon for the Villagers.

Varo scooped the man of the Man of the Match award for Heworth with scrum half Liam Jackson, Briggs and prop Joe Deighton also catching the eye.

Next Saturday the Villagers make the short trip to Leeds to face Stanningley. (Kick off 2.30p.m).