York Acorn lost their unbeaten home record in Arriva Trains Conference division two when beaten 30-6 to promotion candidates East Hull.

The scoreline was comprehensive, but the outcome was in doubt until early in the second half, when it swung dramatically the way of the visitors.

Until then, it had been a keenly fought contest but a combination of injuries, lapses of discipline and controversial calls by the referee effectively ended the home hopes.

Acorn, who were forced to make five changes to the starting line-up, started well, especially in defence, carrying on from where they had left off last week.

Nevertheless, the visitors started purposely and on seven minutes took the lead when good combination play between the prop and half-back saw the latter scamper over for a try and goal. A 24th-minute penalty extended the lead.

Acorn replied straight away when a crunching tackle from the kick-off saw the ball bounce out and prop Mick Hagan picked up and blazed his way to the line, full-back Kev Brundrett goaling.

Acorn should have taken the lead when a smart kick was pounced on brilliantly by winger Jon Waldron, only for the referee to rule he had not grounded the ball.

Acorn's bad luck continued at the other end as East Hull were awarded a dubious penalty to go 10-6 in front at the break.

Early in the second half, Acorn were caught off guard by some good approach play which resulted in East Hull moving 14-6 ahead.

The referee then sin-binned Acorn winger Alan Willitts for retaliation and the visitors booted the penalty.

Acorn nearly got back into it when a break by substitute Steven Irving should have resulted in a try but instead the good field position was wasted when an altercation at the play-the-ball saw two players from each side sin-binned.

Acorn's ten men gamely tried to hold out the 11 men of East Hull, but the visitor's dangerman, hooker Gary Weymes, revelled in the extra space to put Acorn on the back foot.

During this period, East Hull wrapped up the points with an unconverted try, and when the numbers were back to normal, they took the game to a tired, overworked defence and racked up ten more points in the closing stages to give a flattering scoreline.

Acorn did not play badly, but a few bad calls at vital moments and in critical areas, allied to knocks to several key players, were always going to cause problems against a good side like East Hull.

Centres Andy Lee, the man of the match, and Mick Embleton, debutant hooker Fran Starkey, prop forwards Hagan and Adam Endersby and captain Lee Frank all shone.

Updated: 12:03 Monday, September 29, 2003