Heworth 36 vs 30 Lock Lane. NCRL Premier Division round 2. Saturday 14.3.26

Heworth opened their home campaign in the NCRL Premier Division with a narrow 36-30 victory over Lock Lane in a see-saw encounter at Elmpark Way. The Villagers, led 22-16 at the break with both sides displaying  plenty of attacking ability, whilst defensive frailties prevailed throughout, which ensured that the result was always in doubt right until the final whistle.

The visitors opened the scoring after just three minutes with a try by winger Morgan Jones converted by loose forward Connor Jordan for a 6-0 lead which would eventually prove to be the only time they were ahead in the match. Eight minutes later Heworth restored parity after hooker Jack Sadler hoisted a high attacking kick from thirty metres out on the final tackle which full back Fraser West followed up to gather and go over to the left the posts. Sadler stepped up to add the extras. On 16 minutes the hosts went in front when scrum half Finlay Tait sent second rower Ben Barnard charging away down the right edge before finding Sadler up in support to cross for a fine try which he goaled himself to make it 12-6.

The lead was short-lived however and it was all square again when in the 20^th minute Lock Lane substitute Tommy Gibson touched down by the left upright and Jordan slotted his second two pointer. This time it was the home side who were quick to respond and just three minutes later the ball was transferred through several pairs of hands which created space for second rower Liam Richmond to go striding away and wrongfoot the full back to touch down for an excellent try. Sadler's conversion restored a six point lead. Three minutes before the break they increased their advantage when winger Adam Dent and centre Harrison Briggs interchanged passes for the latter to cross in the left corner for an unconverted score. There was still

time though for the visitors to hit back with Jones notching his second effort in the closing seconds to reduce the deficit to 22-16 at the break.

Both sides continued to wrestle for momentum in the early part of the second period and it was the Black and Whites who seized the initiative after eleven minutes when some impressive handling sent entre Billy Sturdy racing away to dot down to the right of the posts and Sadler tagged on the conversion. The action continued unabated with the Castleford based outfit again showing their resilience to storm back with tries in the 55^th and 58^th minute from substitute Danny Holmes and Jones respectively to complete his hat trick, one of which was goaled by Jordan to put them just two points in arrears at 28-26. Ten minutes later Heworth produced a trademark sweeping move to create an overlap for Dent to cross on the left edge for a spectacular score. The visitors though simply refused to go away and with five minutes remaining set home nerves jangling with a touchdown by stand off Kyle Cranswick to once again put the result in doubt at 32-30. It was the hosts however who kept their composure and with only a couple of minutes left on the clock they replicated the identical move to put Dent in at the left corner for his second try to seal a morale boosting 36-30 success.

Adam Dent took the Villagers man of the match award with Jack Sadler, Liam Richmond and Freddie Wilson in close contention.

Next Saturday Heworth head over the Pennines to face Wigan St Judes. Kick off 2.30p.m. 

Report-Dave Ward