HOPES of a money-spinning Powergen Challenge Cup tie against professional opposition ended immediately for Heworth ARLC and York Acorn as they both lost their preliminary round matches.

The Villagers, fielding a much-depleted side, lost 21-6 at home to Loughborough University, while Acorn crashed 64-12 at home to East Hull.

Heworth were without the injured Brendan Carlyle, Gavin Grant and Paddy Handley, the unavailable Carl Potter and suspended duo Phil Musgrave and Wayne Foster.

They are facing another ban as well now following Lee Clarke's late sending off for a bad tackle. Clarke had earlier been sin-binned - as had his brother Sam Clarke, twice - as Heworth's frustrations got the better of them. Ironically, Heworth's only try came when they were down to 11 men, prop Will Neary getting over.

The Villagers' only other points came from an Ian Jones penalty in the first half. Loose-forward Jones and full-back John Coulson were the pick of their players.

Loughborough, who led 8-2 at the break, were quick and defended well, scoring tries through Gareth Rees, Andy McGuinness, Paul Calland, Mike Brooks, while Paul Calland added two goals and a drop.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "If we had a stronger side we might have done better, but we did not play as well as we would have liked."

Acorn, flying high in National Conference division two, were rolled over by division one promotion-seekers East Hull, for whom man of the match Mick Docherty, who was briefly a York Wasps player, scored a try and ten goals. Hooker Gary Weymes also grabbed a hat-trick in the 12-try rout.

The Blue and Golds weren't out of the game at 18-6 down at half-time, but their defence, much-improved this season, struggled to cope, especially in the second half when the game fell away from them. They scored through Johnny Waldron and Danny Liddell, Kev Brundrett goaling both.

There was cup joy for amateur RL in York, though, as New Earswick All Blacks, of the Pennine League, shocked National Conference side Askam in the GMB Union National Cup. A report of this stunning 19-8 win will be carried in tomorrow's Evening Press.

Updated: 10:51 Monday, January 17, 2005