Heworth'S promotion dreams ended last week when National Conference League chiefs decided only two teams would go up from division two.

And the York club's disappoint-ment was to the fore on Saturday as they lost 21-18 at Huddersfield Syngenta, a defeat which confir-med mathematically that they face another season in the bottom tier.

The Villagers had needed to beat the Sharks and hope Wath Brow - whose only loss all season had come against Heworth - would somehow lose their remaining six games.

In the end, Heworth's defeat mattered little as Wath Brow hammered Widnes St Marie's 62-4.

The Villagers had defeated Hudders-field in a close game at Elm Park Way earlier in the season, but that result was reversed as the Sharks - beaten only once at home this term - turned around a 12-11 half-time deficit in a game that was only decided late on.

Ritchie Hawkyard kicked Hudders-field ahead but Heworth - showing commendable commitment - exerted pressure for prop Will Neary to crash over on 12 minutes, Carl Potter sandwiching the conversion between two penalties.

Home stand-off Tom Tsang then stepped through and Hawkyard booted the extras and a penalty to level the scores.

Potter's penalty made it 12-10 to Heworth and, after Hawkyard dropped a goal, Potter had a try harshly ruled out for obstruction before the break, and this proved crucial as Carl Barrow was sin-binned for interfering after the restart and Hawkyard added two more goals to put the hosts ahead.

Lee Mason took an inside pass to score on 75 minutes, Hawkyard converting, but Heworth - on the wrong end of a 19-12 penalty count - set up a grandstand finish as prop Simon Harrison went over, Potter goaling, and then nearly won it through Sam Clarke, but he was unable to ground the ball.

Heworth loose-forward Steve Barnard was in the Yorkshire squad beaten by Lancashire 24-12 at Blackbrook yesterday. The result means the Red Rose side lift the BARLA County Championship for the first time since 1999.

Updated: 10:42 Monday, March 31, 2003