On the brink!

Forward thrust: Rich Darling surges into the attack for Heworth against West Hull last night. Picture: Nigel Holland

Brave Heworth were beaten 16-8 by the newly-crowned champions on an emotional night at Elmpark Way and are now relying on Wigan St Patricks losing their final two games to retain their place in the premier division.

But Horton accepted that in-form St Pats were unlikely to do them any favours. "It's wishful thinking, I can't see it happening. They've started playing well and I can't see them losing," said Horton, after his final game in charge ended in bitter disappointment.

The Villagers had come so close to pulling off the shock win that would have guaranteed them premier division rugby next season but in the end it proved a game too far.

Heworth had been unbeaten in their previous three games but Horton admitted it was a poor run of form earlier in the campaign which had done the damage.

He said: "The team were fully committed. If we had been that committed throughout the season we'd have been sitting pretty at the top. We haven't got relegated on tonight's game, it's what we've done throughout the season.

"I feel sorry for the team tonight because they're the players that have done it for us. There have been players that haven't wanted to put the work in and I've had a lot of players missing. We finally got a good squad together and got a run going.

"I hope they can take it into next season and be a force in that division. They can come straight back up but they need to stick together."

It was a sad night for the former York Wasps player and coach who is bowing out after 20 years in the game to devote more time to his work and family, with his girlfriend due to give birth to their child in the next few weeks.

He is hoping to return to the professional game in the future, possibly as an Academy or Alliance coach, but for now is planning a well-deserved break.

"There is some sadness. A lot of the players I've come to respect. I'd like to think I've made a few friends and I hope they think the same of me. There's sadness in that way but I'm looking forward to the break and changing nappies!"

And he added: ""I'd like to thank the players, especially the 19 that have been coming down to training the last month. They have worked hard. I asked a lot from them and they've come up with it. It's just unfortunate they couldn't pull it off."

Heworth are to advertise for a successor to Stewart Horton in the rugby league press.

Brave Villagers battle to the end

by Dianne Hillaby

So close but yet so far. It may be a clich but it summed up Heworth's season perfectly after last night's heartbreaking 16-8 defeat by West Hull left them on the brink of relegation.

Until the final minute the Villagers were just two points behind the champions-elect at Elmpark Road and still very much in the game.

But when Wayne Harris touched down to finish a sparkling move for the visitors just seconds before the final whistle there were contrasting emotions as West Hull celebrated their new status as National Conference champions and disconsolate Heworth were left to consider what might have been.

As coach Stewart Horton said afterwards, they hadn't been relegated on this result. The damage had already been done earlier in the season through injuries, unavailability and players who had simply not been up for the task.

That had left Heworth looking odds-on for relegation a month ago but the current squad showed their fighting spirit with a three-match unbeaten run which had kept their hopes alive right up until last night's final whistle.

And while talk among the Heworth players and officials was of first division rugby next season, they should remember that all is not yet lost. Wigan St Patricks must win both their remaining games to send Heworth down and while St Pats may have hit a good run of form, anything is possible.

On last night's performance Heworth certainly deserve to start the new campaign in the top flight. They never took a backward step, the defence stood firm - for the most part - and there were a few touches in attack which suggested they had the capabilities of pulling off a shock.

But they didn't quite have the inspiration to break down an organised defence and in the end West Hull had that extra bit of class which you would expect from champions.

They opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a simple try by winger Shane Foster who touched down in the corner from close range. From then until the final minute it was a game of penalties as 18-year-old Wakefield referee Ben Thaler pulled up both sides for every offence in the book.

Impressive Heworth loose forward Jason Gatus, a star for the Villagers all season, slotted over two penalties to level the scores before number Dave Roe did the same for West Hull, making it 8-4 to the visitors at the interval.

In a tight second half both sides had a spell down to 12 men with Heworth centre Nathan Witty going into the sin-bin after 50 minutes and West Hull hooker Ian Stockdale following him 10 minutes later.

Gatus kicked a 30-yard effort after 55 minutes but Roe replied for the Hull side to maintain their four-point advantage before Gatus narrowed the gap again with another penalty.

That was how it stood going into the final 10 minutes and it was Heworth who looked the more likely. After Gatus had missed a penalty from a difficult angle they camped in the West Hull 20 metre area but their desperate attacks came to nothing.

Then in the final minute Hull winger Terry Lynn broke down the right from inside his own half and as Rich Darling came across to cover he managed to get the ball back inside for Harris to go over, Roe kicking the goal which sealed the title, for West Hull.

Afterwards Horton had no complaints: "The team were fully committed. It was one of those games which could go either way.

"I said at half-time that a try from either side would win it and they got the break. Good luck to them, they probably deserve to win the league."

All Blacks aim for safety

New Earswick All Blacks will be hoping to go one better than neighbours Heworth as the survival battle switches to White Rose Avenue on Saturday.

The All Blacks take on Blackbrook in their penultimate National Conference second division fixture (kick-off 2.30pm) needing two victories to escape the clutches of re-election at the expense of rivals York Acorn.

While Heworth can still hope Wigan St Patricks do them a favour after losing to West Hull last night, the All Blacks' future is entirely in their own hands.

Anything less than two wins will not be enough which is a huge task for the All Blacks whose form in the latter part of the season has sent them into the freefall.

Their last victory was against basement club Keighley Albion back in January and since then they have suffered some heavy defeats, most recently in their last game when they lost 38-18 at Eccles on March 28.

Their precarious position was brought about following Ovenden's expulsion from the league. Until then Acorn had looked favourites to finish in the second re-election spot but, when all the results against Ovenden were expunged from the records, it was New Earswick who came off the worst.

Their fate is still in their own hands, however, and victory in their remaining two matches, at home to Blackbrook and Eccles, would ensure they finish above Acorn who have already completed their programme.

York Groves, 24-12 winners over Mirfield last week, visit second placed Earlsheaton in Yorkshire League division three. Bottom club Scarborough, beaten 18-0 at Walton, travel to Ryhill. Selby Warriors are at home to Prince of Wales in division two.

York Acorn 'A' entertain Batley Boys 'A' in Yorkshire Alliance Two (kick-off 2.30pm) while New Earswick 'A' are also at home, to Dewsbury. Struggling Heworth face a trip to Featherstone Lions in Alliance One.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.