YORK Acorn ARLC Under-16s exacted revenge on neighbours New Earswick All Blacks U16s with a 10-6 victory at White Rose Avenue.

As reported in Park Life a fortnight ago, Acorn, All Blacks and Heworth all have teams in division one of the Yorkshire U16s Youth League this season and, as such, the clashes among them count towards a new mini-competition between the three.

All Blacks took the first plaudits with a 26-22 comeback victory at Acorn earlier this month, but the tables were turned in a hard-fought return encounter.

The Park Life match report of that clash had actually been pinned on the wall of the changing rooms ahead of this second meeting, and it seemingly spurred Acorn on.

This was another excellent game, too, both teams deserving plenty of credit.

Defences worked overtime with neither team dominating, though Acorn perhaps shaded the first half.

They broke the deadlock early on when Callum McDarby took a good ball, cut inside and shrugged off would-be tacklers, Jake Calam converting, but a try-fest did not materialise due to tremendous defensive efforts.

Acorn’s forwards were magnificent, notably Reece Arthur and Alex Smith, while tackling in the threequarters was vigorous.

New Earswick began the second half by kicking out on the full, and Acorn for the next ten minutes laid siege to the home line.

The defence was equal to the task until man-ofthe- match Reece Rushworth – who made more than 40 tackles and carried the ball more than most – powered over from dummy-half for a 10-0 lead.

All Blacks, though, came back with their own period of dominance, with Max Colley and Ryan Price hitting hard at the defence, and, while Acorn stood up well, the hosts did cut the deficit with a converted try – setting up another tense finale.

In the previous encounter, New Earswick came back with three tries to snatch victory, but the Blue and Golds did not let lightning strike twice.

Meanwhile, Heworth U16s lost 36-14 at home to Myton Warriors – but it was fine effort from a side who were two men down.

Great tackling and a few quick breaks through the Myton line meant the game was pretty even in the first half, but tiredness eventually affected the legs in the depleted Heworth ranks.

Billy Sturdy scored twice for the Villagers after Nathan Harland had got them on the board, with Johnny Rawsthorne adding a goal.

Sturdy was also the top tackler, while Ryan Martin was the man-of-the-match.