Heworth Under-16s win against Featherstone in Yorkshire Combination Youth League

The Villagers built a 22-4 half-time advantage but flagged in the second half, allowing the visitors to gradually draw closer with a succession of tries, eventually taking a 24-22 lead.

However, an excellent set of passes helped Lewis Hartley to break through and score the winner, converted by Jonny Rawsthorne.

Heworth had begun the match fired up. Spencer Mahaffey broke through several punishing tackles to score the first try, converted by Rawsthorne, and, although Featherstone fought back with a quick try in reply, the home team, following ten more minutes of end-to-end play, then took charge.

Hartley scored his first try, converted by Rawsthorne, and, while strong tackling from Featherstone halted the flow of play for a short time, Josh Turley broke through to increase the lead, Rawsthorne again goaling.

Mahaffey ended the first period with a barging run through the defence to score again and cap a joint-man-ofthe- match award with Hartley, whose late effort ensured victory following Featherstone’s second-half fightback. The top tacklers were Ryan Martin and Jake Douglas.

Selby Warriors U15s paid for impatience and complacency as they lost 28-12 to Wetherby Bulldogs U15s in their last run-out of pre-season.

Wetherby play in a lower tier in the Yorkshire Junior League but deservedly won this encounter 28-12 having worked the Warriors all over the pitch, showing good defence to boot.

Selby’s try-scorers were Dylan Tonks, Henry Levett and Sam Hazell, all three conversions being missed.

Selby’s best player was scrum-half Jamie Graley, although the team as a whole failed to build pressure.

The Yorkshire Junior League, playing a summer season unlike the Yorkshire Youth League, kicks off this weekend, involving teams at various age groups from Heworth, York Acorn, New Earswick All Blacks and Selby Warriors.

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