Oulton 10 vs 44 Heworth. NCL Division 1 Rd 15. Saturday 26.7.25

In National Conference League Division 1, following victories by the top three sides, Heworth remain in third place in the table after a convincing a 44-10 success at Oulton Raiders. Despite conceding an early score the Villagers posted five unanswered tries to forge an unassailable  26-6 lead at the break and then went on to add three further touchdowns in the second half to seal a runaway victory.

The hosts opened the scoring after just three minutes with a try by full back Joe Horan converted by stand off Josh Perkins. Heworth took a while to get into their stride and it wasn't until the 18th minute that they achieved parity when second rower Ben Barnard proved unstoppable from close range and substitute Callum Rutland added the extras. Four minutes later they went in front after some good handling led to centre Billy Sturdy going over on the right edge for an unconverted score. The Villagers kept up the pressure and on 26 minutes stand off Danny Allan sent Barnard charging over for his second touchdown to make it 14-6. It was all one-way traffic now and right on the half hour mark scrum half Liam Jackson put prop Jonny Payne through a yawning gap in the home defence to go over unopposed. Rutland slotted the two pointer to increase their advantage to fourteen points.  Three minutes before half time the Villagers gave the hosts a mountain to climb after another impressive handling move enabled winger Maddox Jeffery to cross by the right corner flag and again Rutland obliged with a fine touchline conversion for a 26-6 lead at the break.

The Raiders, to their credit came out strongly at the start of the second half in an effort to stem the tide but it was not to be and on 53 minutes substitute Mackenzie Scurr muscled his way over from close range next to the posts for Rutland to convert. On the hour mark the Black and Whites were in again when centre Adam Dent fielded an attacking kick behind his own try line and raced out to take the quick tap before making good ground and handing on to Jackson who sped away on a weaving run to cross for a spectacular length of the field try which was improved by Rutland.  With ten minutes left on the clock Rutland backed up a strong break by Sturdy to go over for the Villagers final touchdown and add his sixth conversion to make it 44-6. The hosts though had the final word on 73 minutes when winger Joe Littlewood notched a consolation try make the final score 44-10.

For the second consecutive week Ben Barnard took Heworth's Man of the Match award.

Next Saturday the Villagers face a much stiffer task when second placed Ince Rose Bridge are the visitors to Elmpark Way.  

match report- Dave Ward