STEVE Barnard enjoyed a remarkable return to action for Heworth on Saturday but still couldn't prevent his side continuing their depressing run.

The Yorkshire amateur loose-forward has not played this season because of new work commitments and it was feared he had hung up his boots for good.

But, with key men Sam Clarke, Simon Harrison, Carl Potter and Nathan Witty all away at the latter's wedding, Barnard was back in Black and White for the Arriva Trains Conference division two clash with Eastmoor Dragons and scored a hat-trick of tries.

However, Heworth still crashed to a ninth defeat, 48-28, in ten games and next week's derby against York Acorn grows ever more important as the former giants of the amateur game look to get out of the re-election zone.

The defence remains indifferent at best for Heworth, though on a brighter note other silver linings, in addition to Barnard's return - the club will be hoping it wasn't just a one-off match from him - were the performances of young second-rower Luke Judson and York City Knights amateur prop Dan Briggs at stand-off.

Eastmoor went ahead with tries by full-back Matty Rogers and winger Andrew Phillips, both goaled by Rogers, but Heworth hit back with Barnard's first try and one for Judson, both goaled by Chris Hammerton.

The visitors, with half-back brothers Kevin and Mike Brown to the fore, came again though and went 24-12 up at the break through tries by the latter and Phillips plus conversions by Rogers.

Briggs sent Gavin Grant through after the restart, Ian Jones goaling, but the Dragons upped their lead through tries by Kevin Brown and Teri Ioanie plus conversions by Leigh Joyce.

Barnard then grabbed his second but Kevin Brown did likewise with a 60-metre run to end all hopes of a comeback and although Barnard completed his hat-trick, the final word went to the visitors as player-coach John Hirst crossed and Rogers goaled.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "If you score 28 points at home you expect to win. But they got eight tries and added every goal which makes it look worse.

"We got back into it but let them go away again. It was disappointing and some of the tackling was very poor. We seem to score points but defending is a problem."

Updated: 13:00 Monday, November 03, 2003