Wigan St Patricks 14 vs 22 Heworth. NCL Division 1 Rd 8 rescheduled fixture. Saturday 23-8-25.

In National Conference League Division 1 Heworth, lacking several regular players which necessitated the inclusion of a number of youngsters, produced a spirited display to come away with a close fought 22-14 victory at Wigan St Patricks. The Villagers, who were never behind in the match, had the better of the first half and forged a 10-4 lead at the break but in an attritional and often feisty second period they were given a stern test by a determined Saints side before eventually proving just too clinical for their opponents after going on to post two tries in three minutes to run out worthy winners.

Heworth opened the scoring after ten minutes when stand off George Elliott snapped up a stray pass by the hosts close to his own line and raced the length of the field to touch down close to the posts for scrum half Finlay Tait to add the conversion. Six minutes later they increased their advantage to ten points after a quick shift to the left edge led to full back Fraser West going over wide out for an unconverted score. The Villagers continued to dominate possession and territory but were unable to turn it into points and right on the half hour mark the hosts hit back with a try by prop Connor Webb to reduce the deficit to 10-4 at the break.

The Saints came out firing at the start of the second period and it was all to play after just three minutes when winger Jonah Taylor crossed for their second try improved by hooker Brad Smith to level matters at 10-10. With the game now on a knife edge the next twenty minutes developed into a real arm wrestle as both sides battled frantically to gain supremacy and with plenty of aggression on show tempers threatened to boil over. It was the Black and Whites however who displayed all their experience to maintain their composure and on 64 minutes they broke the deadlock when centre Billy Sturdy broke away on halfway down the right edge and raced forty metres before drawing the full back and finding young substitute Ellis Southerington up in support to cross for his first NCL try which Tait improved for a six point lead. Three minutes later they increased their advantage when West dummied his way through the home defensive line and darted down the left edge to go over for his second touchdown to make it 20-10. The action continued thick and fast and on 73 minutes the Saints had the visitors nerves jangling after second rower Danny Ryding forced his way over close to the line to reduce the deficit to six points. In a tense remaining period the Villagers still had work to do but a stout defensive effort prevented the hosts from adding to their tally. With three minutes remaining Tait slotted a penalty goal awarded for a high tackle to complete a notable victory which, with four games remaining puts them within a single point of League leaders Wigan St Judes and maintains their challenge for an automatic promotion place.

Hooker Harley Axe took Heworth's Man of the match award in a fine all round team performance.

Next Saturday Warrington based Crosfields are the visitors to Elmpark Way. (2.30p.m.)

Match report- Dave Ward