Heworth showed enough fighting spirit to launch a comeback at Ovenden but it wasn't enough as they lost 34-22.

The game provided personal milestones for two Heworth players as Carl Potter took his goal tally for the season to 50 while prolific winger Gavin Grant scored two tries to equal Andy Tindall's long-standing club record of 21 touchdowns in a season.

Given the nature of Heworth's season, entrenched in the re-election zone, Grant's contribution is all the more impressive. Club spokesman Ken Sykes said: "He certainly knows where the try-line is."

The result maintained the home side's slim chances of promotion from National Conference division two, this third win on the trot quietly lifting them to fifth and into the frame, but kept the Villagers in second-bottom place, a point behind Huddersfield Sharks, who weren't in action.

It was a battling display from the Villagers, though, and despite trailing 18-4 at the interval, they kept up the pressure to outscore the hosts in the second period. Sykes said: "We came back really well.

"It was a really difficult pitch with dips, slopes and all sorts, and it was a terrible day with the cold but both teams played some good rugby.

"A spell in the first half where they scored three tries in about nine minutes made the job extremely difficult for us but we won the second half in what was quite a spirited performance against a team that's been playing pretty well."

Ovenden went ahead in the first minute through Gareth English and, although, Potter levelled with two penalties, wingers Derek Morris and Lee Child and hooker Lee Midgley gave the hosts their commanding half-time lead, Chris Hartley goaling one.

English crossed soon after the interval, Hartley goaling, and he completed his hat-trick in a ding-dong second half in which centre Gareth Jones also scored. Heworth won the half, though, courtesy of tries for lively stand-off Paddy Hanley and man of the match Nikki Wilson plus Grant's brace. Wayne Foster, Potter and John Coulson also impressed for the visitors.

York Acorn, not in action, lost ground on the top two but stayed in third.

Updated: 10:50 Monday, February 21, 2005