YORK Acorn were just beaten 22-16 by National Conference League division two champions Wath Brow Hornets in their final game of the current campaign.

For 70 minutes of this thrilling encounter, York Acorn were generally the better side and looked like taking the spoils only to discover late on why their illustrious opponents are so highly-rated.

In those final ten minutes, Acorn were undone by a combination of giving away too many silly penalties and one or two missed tackles in vital positions.

Wath Brow took full advantage to score two late tries through substitute Scott Teare from close range and centre Ian Rooney with the former being goaled by full-back Gavin Curwen.

Before these late tries Acorn had built up a 16-12 lead thanks chiefly to a blistering opening 20 minutes which had seen them 12-0 in front.

On 12 minutes, winger and man-of-the-match Jon Waldron broke away after an Acorn scrum heel 20 meters out to score a try. Kevin Brundrett added the extras.

Five minutes later, Waldron received the ball from Dave Norman and cut through at pace to leave Wath's highly-rated defence in tatters. Brundrett added the conversion to send Acorn into a 12-0 lead.

Wath Brow aren't champions for nothing and they hit back on when Craig Calvert rounded the Acorn cover to score a try out wide which Curwen added the conversion.

Four minutes later the scores were level when quick handling saw Stewart Sanderson cross for a try goaled once again by Curwen.

The teams remained locked level until the 55th minute when Waldron beat both the Wath Brow full-back and covering winger to race in from 60 yards for his hat-trick try to gain them a 16-12 lead.

Acorn continued to hold the upper hand until substitute forward Lee McTigue along with Wath Brow loose forward Graeme Mattinson were sent to the sin bin.

Unfortunately, Acorn, despite giving one of their best displays of the season, weren't able to keep it up for the full 80 minutes and in the final ten minutes they were to suffer as the champions snatched victory with those two late tries.

Updated: 11:30 Monday, April 21, 2003