Heworth answered player-coach Brendan Carlyle's demand for more tries in rousing style, but the response was to no avail.

The Villagers' five-try tally was brushed aside by 11 tries amassed by visitors Rochdale Mayfield, who romped to a 58-26 success to leave the York side still lodged second from bottom of the Arriva Trains Conference second division. And with nearest rivals Waterhead winning away at bottom-placed Millom, Heworth's deficit to the brace of teams above them has now been extended to five points.

Heworth battled gamely throughout and were rewarded with tries from the promising centre/wing axis of Gavin Grant and Nathan Witty, plus touchdowns from Simon Harrison, Jon Jewitt and Carl Potter, who also kicked three goals.

But Mayfield's keener pace and a towering performance from loose forward Ben Butterworth, proved the undoing of the Elm Park Way hosts.

The visitors - lying second from top - crossed the whitewash no fewer than 11 times.

Of their haul, half-back Sam Butterworth, brother of Ben, crossed for three tries, adding the extras seven times, while there were further tries from Danny Morton (3), Rob Kershaw (2), Neil Ramsden, Steve Gartland and Paul Higginson.

Now Heworth's back-room team face the task of quickly lifting morale ahead of this Saturday's Powergen Challenge Cup second round trip to ATC premier division powerhouse outift West Hull.

West Hull are one of the strongest teams left in the secound round, where the incentive is to go into the hat alongside the game's leading clubs.

West Hull warmed up for the visit of Heworth by edging past Oulton Raiders 22-18 for fifth place in the premier division.

Heworth's ATC division two side York Acorn were without a game at the weekend.

Updated: 10:04 Monday, December 08, 2003