Woolston Rovers 34 vs 32 Heworth. Saturday 10.5.25. National Conference League Division 1.

In National Conference League Division 1 Heworth's run of four successive victories came to an end with a disappointing 34-32 defeat at lowly Woolston Rovers who had only managed a solitary victory in their previous six outings. The Villagers led 20-16 at the break but, after letting slip a ten point advantage on no less than three occasions, they paid the price for a lack of composure in the final quarter with the hosts match winning score coming with just four minutes left on the clock.

The Warrington based outfit took advantage of a sluggish start by Heworth and raced into an early 10-0 lead after 9 minutes with touchdowns by stand off Ryan Brown and hooker James Tarpey the second of which was improved by Brown. The Villagers were quick to respond however and after the home defence failed to deal with an attacking kick by stand off Danny Allan scrum half Callum Rutland crossed for their opening try which he converted himself to reduce the deficit to four points. On 21 minutes parity was achieved when hooker Harley Axe dummied to go right from acting half close to the line before catching the home defence off guard and switching play to find winger Max Rhodes with an excellent pass to send him over by the left corner flag to make it 10-10. Five minutes later another fine pass from Allan led to winger Maddox Jeffery crossing wide out on the opposite flank to put them four points ahead. It got even better for Heworth right on the half hour when Jeffery returned the compliment after breaking away downfield and finding Allan up in support who raced over next to the posts for Rutland to add the extras to make it 20-10. It looked as though things would stay that way until the break but in the closing minute the hosts got themselves back into the match after capitalising on a last tackle penalty with a try by substitute Andrew Addison which Brown goaled to reduce the deficit to six points. 

Heworth started the second half strongly and after just two minutes a quick shift to the left from a scrum 25 metres out led to Rhodes crossing for his second score and substitute Jack Sadler's conversion restored a ten-point lead. Woolston were not about to lie down and on 53 minutes it was all to play for again when they hit back with a touchdown from loose forward Harry Files augmented by Brown to make it 26-22. The action came thick and fast and five minutes later the Black and Whites, for the third time in the match, opened up a ten-point lead when second rower Joe Deighton blasted his way through the defensive line and charged 40 metres down centre field shrugging off several defenders before sending Allan over unopposed for his second try and Sadler added the two pointer to put them 32-22 ahead. Just when they needed to steady the ship and see out the contest Heworth's game management skills were found wanting and the hosts took full advantage of a string of penalties and a six again call which led to them having to defend five successive sets on their own line. Despite a tenacious defensive effort the pressure finally took it's toll and on 72 minutes second rower Ben Dixon forced his way over close to the posts for Brown to add the goal and leave them four points in arrears. It was now vital with such a slim lead that Heworth needed to regain control of the match, respect possession and turn the ball over in good field position. They looked to be doing exactly that until four minutes from time when after forging their way downfield to within ten metres of the home line on the last tackle they inexplicably, chose to move the ball wide and attempt a cut out pass on the left edge which was intercepted by home scrum half Sean Kelly who raced the length of the field to touch down in the right corner to level matters at 32 apiece. Brown coolly stepped up to stroke over the match winning touchline conversion  leaving the Villagers to rue what might have been.

Joe Deighton took Heworth's Man of the Match award.

The Villagers will be looking to bounce back next Saturday when they head over the Pennines again to face Wigan St Patricks. (Kick off 2,30p.m.)

Match report- Dave Ward