Heworth and Leigh East face a National Conference League inquiry after Saturday's division one clash at Elm Park Way was abandoned becasue of fighting.

The game erupted 15 minutes from the end after a series of head high tackles which had angered the Heworth players.

After one such tackle on Heworth's Danny Wright had resulted in just a penalty, players from both sides started fighting and Oldham referee Clive Walker sent off six players to try to restore order.

But as the players were leaving the pitch - Anthony Howcroft, Lee and Sam Clarke for Heworth and Mike German, Anthony Gredecki and Jamie Macro for Leigh - brawling broke out once again and Mr Walker took the decision to abandon the game with Leigh East leading 22-15.

The NCL management committee is now likely to launch an inquiry before deciding whether to take further action against the teams or players involved.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "We're all very disappointed. We obviously have things we would like to say but we can't at this stage.

"The referee did lose it a bit. You could sense the game was getting a bit out of control and it did. There had been a few head high tackles going in and the referee lost control."

Because the abandonment came so late in the game the result will stand which leaves Heworth five places off the foot of the division.

Heworth had led 13-12 at half-time with tries by Howcroft and Steve Barnard, both goaled by Chris Hammerton who also added a field goal.

In the second half Leigh hit back with tries by Phil Marsden and second for Mark Kay, converted by Gredecki, to take the lead.

Hammerton pulled back a penalty for the Villgers but they were not given the chance to get back into the match before it was abandoned.