Heworth exacted the perfect revenge on cross-city rivals York Acorn, as they ended the Blue and Golds' dreams of a place in the third round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup.

The Villagers staved off a stirring fightback by Acorn to hold on to a 16-14 win in a nerve-racking second round tie at Thanet Road, and therefore avenge the National Conference League division two defeat earlier in the season.

While Heworth can now await a potentially money-spinning tie against professional opposition - Northern Ford Premiership clubs like York Wasps enter at this stage - Acorn will have to wait at least another year for that elusive first-ever appearance in the third round.

However, their consolation is the fact they can at least now concentrate on winning promotion to NCL division one.

Heworth's Dave Carling and Acorn's Lee Frank traded penalties, the goals being the only scores of the first 28 minutes, which were more notable for a 20-man brawl triggered by a set-to between Frank and Nigel Wilson.

Steve Barnard, who missed that previous game between these clubs, then broke the deadlock when he eluded two Acorn tacklers to run round to the left of the posts, with Carling converting.

As the Villagers continued to press, Mick Harrison had a drop-goal attempt charged down but, in their next set of six, Nikki Wilson broke down the inside right to get a deserved second try for the visitors on 35 minutes. Carling, who enjoyed an immaculate day with the boot, sent over another conversion.

Heworth seemed in control but on the stroke of half-time Mick Harrison blotted a fine individual display by earning a sin-binning for throwing a punch, and hooker Kevin Gott was also forced off the field with a head cut.

Acorn were unable to make the advantage tell, and 12 minutes into the second half Carling goaled a penalty awarded for a late tackle on Harrison.

At 16-2 the tie seemed over, but Acorn had other ideas. Despite being without the inspirational duo Rob Lee, who left for York Wasps a fortnight ago and made his debut at Huntington Stadium yesterday, and stand-off Danny Liddell, out with a fractured cheekbone, the Blue and Golds fought back admirably.

They had done most of the work in the first half, having been on the defensive for much of the time, but came back with two tries of their own to get within a whisker of a stunning victory.

The first came with just over 20 minutes still on the clock. Heworth number one Rich Darling was sin-binned for seemingly transgressing as Acorn tried to take a quick penalty, and his presence was missed as Andy Lee broke through to touch down, Frank converting.

Three minutes later, Darling's replacement at full-back, Harrison, who had been the dangerman at stand-off, inexplicably dropped a bomb 15 yards out, and Acorn took advantage by moving the ball to the right where Steven Irving picked up to score.

Frank converted superbly from the touchline to bring Acorn to within two points and set the match up for a grandstand finale.

Heworth were forced to drop out as Acorn pushed for the vital score, but the Villagers, with player-coach Brendan Carlyle to the fore, ran the clock down superbly, and to have been beaten then would have been a little unfair.

With under a minute left, Irving could have launched one last attack for Acorn but appeared to land an elbow when tackled in his own half, and that gave a penalty and the ball back to Heworth, and there was no turning back from there.

NEW Earswick All Blacks were unable to raise a side for their Yorkshire League senior and division one clash against Brotherton.

Updated: 12:01 Monday, December 17, 2001