YORK Acorn moved smoothly into the third round of the BNFL National Cup with a 32-18 victory over Yorkshire League senior division side Featherstone Miners Welfare.

The Blue and Golds meted out severe first half punishment to their Thanet Road visitors with 32 unanswered points, before conceding three late tries in the second period.

Playing without several regulars, Acorn immediately settled to their task and took the lead on two minutes when second row forward Kenny Embleton crossed the whitewash following a planned move.

Captain Darren Callaghan, fresh from his starring role with the BARLA Great Britain Under-21s, added the extras for a 6-0 advantage and he extended the lead to 10-0 with a try from acting half.

He converted his own try before putting centre Gareth Lloyd through a gap for the first of his two scores.

Now leading 16-0, Acorn continued to dominate thanks to the solid form of 16-year-old scrum-half Danny Liddell, full back Andy Dudman, hooker Lee Frank and man-of-the-match Lloyd.

Lloyd was dangerous when in possession and he proved that point when he went over after Callaghan went blind round the base of a scrum and drew the Featherstone defence.

Second rower Mark Hebblethwaite added another try when he plunged over from acting half, Callaghan again converting.

Stand-off Callaghan added Acorn's final try of the first half - and the match - when he jinked past two players for a score he converted himself.

However, Featherstone responded with their trio of tries, through centre Wayne Ellam (2) and stand-off Ian Hobson. Ellam added three conversions.

But any hope of the visitors completing the revival were dashed when prop forward Mick Harrison was dismissed for an off the ball tackle.

However, fellow York side Clifton Moor were on the receiving end of a 78-4 battering from National Conference League second division hosts Hull Dockers.

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