THERE was mixed luck for York's two National Conference League sides as Heworth continued their revival with an impressive defeat of Millom while York Acorn went down to one of the shock results of the season at bottom club Saddleworth.

Heworth worked hard to notch their third win in four games, 29-16 against the off-form Cumbrians to go three points clear of the re-election zone.

Prolific winger Gavin Grant and forward Wayne Foster crossed for tries in the first half, the first a 50-metre interception and the second after good work from the impressive Luke Judson, and stand-off Carl Potter added three goals and a drop goal as the Villagers led 15-2 at half-time.

Millom, who like Heworth were founder members of the Conference back in the mid-1980s, got back in the game after the interval with a try by back-rower Neil Thompson, Paul Evans adding another two-pointer, but Grant, who has already set a new tries-in-a-season record for Heworth, went over again for his 24th this term following a Potter 40-20.

Millom's hopes effectively ended when veteran forward Gary Kelly was harshly sent off for a high tackle, though the Maroons still scored two tries, through Tom Sibley and Chris Spiers, to Heworth's one, through John Coulson, in the final quarter.

Potter added three more goals as Millom were condemned to a fifth straight defeat. Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It was a must-win game for us."

Acorn's promotion hopes were hit hard by their shock 31-8 defeat. Saddleworth had won only twice before in 18 outings but made it two wins in two with this result.

An Andy Gargan penalty gave the Blue and Golds an early lead but that was their only points of the half as Rangers hit back in astonishing fashion with four tries, from the excellent Emerson Jackman, teenagers Simon Parrish and Matthew Bottom, and Ewan Winston.

Parrish got a second after the interval before winger Johnny Waldron registered Acorn's first and only touchdown, converted by Gargan, but Rangers rightly had the last word with a penalty and drop goal by teenager Adam Kirwan, taking his kicking tally to 11 points.

Updated: 10:07 Monday, March 14, 2005