HEWORTH head coach Scott Rhodes has praised the title-winning season that his side have had, noting "it has gone really well" despite being a tough campaign.

Heworth have secured promotion from division two of the National Conference League, having stormed to the top of the table and keeping their place.

With just two losses and one draw across 20 games, Heworth have comfortably been one of the division’s stand-out sides.

Rhodes noted how hard the campaign had been for the Villagers, while also adding well the term had gone for his team.

“It’s been a tough season for us,” he reflected. “Jumping a league from division three to division two, we were expecting it to be tough.

"There’s some good teams in there, Woolston, Normanton Knights who we’ve played before. Dewsbury Celtic, we played them a couple of years ago in a division three play-off final and we got beat that day.

“We knew there’d be some tough sides in there, but I knew in the back of my mind that we’ve recruited pretty well, we’ve got a decent side together.

“I always knew we were going to go well in the division. How well, obviously you don’t know. It’s all gone pretty much to plan really.

“We’ve been pretty consistent with our team selection over the year, which I think is key to winning these leagues. It’s gone really well for us.”

Heworth were set to play Hunslet Warriors on Saturday, but Hunslet were unable to raise a team.

The Villagers will next play Bradford Dudley Hill, who are bottom of the division with eight points, on September 3 (2.30pm).

Elsewhere, in the premier division, York Acorn fell to a 36-18 defeat away at Lock Lane, taking a dent in their bid for survival.

A great kick from Bailey O’Connor found Lucas Moon in the corner who managed to score.

The score was improved by Kyle Cranswick with his first of six conversions.

A try from Shaun Pick and a penalty from Cranswick saw Lock Lane extend their lead to 14-0 before Oliver Bloomer covered much of the pitch for a try after intercepting a pass.

Acorn entered the break down by 18 and saw the deficit increased further in the second half when Conor McGrath scored for the hosts.

York saw a try from Adam Endersby and a brace from Matt Chilton, as well as three conversions from Antony Chilton, as they tried to mount a comeback, but it was too late for Acorn to take a lead in the game.

York remain 10th in the table, three points ahead of Thornhill Trojans and just one point behind both Pilkington Recs and Rochdale Mayfield.

Acorn will take on Pilkington at home in their final game of the season on September 3 (2.30pm).

Meanwhile, New Earswick All Blacks fell to a 30-18 defeat away at Brighouse Rangers in the Yorkshire Men’s League premier division.

They will take on Fryston Warriors at home on September 3 in their next game (2.30pm).