HEWORTH ARLC Under-12s paid for a below-par first-half performance at home to Stanley Rangers - despite a second-half comeback.

Sporting a brand new kit, the home team looked smart but did not start as brightly as their new colours, allowing Rangers to take the lead.

The try came from their big loose-forward, who went on to score a first-half hat-trick and finish with four touchdowns in a starring role.

Heworth fought back, though, and it was only that fourth try by their nemesis that settled the outcome.

Heworth spokesman Paul Harry said: “It was an entertaining encounter which in many ways could have gone either way but Stanley probably edged it as Heworth showed too many patchy moments.”

Heworth’s first reply came after man-of-the-match Callum Rutland caused chaos with a cross-field kick.

This somehow didn’t garner a try but the pressure remained and, in the next set, Rutland tried his luck again and, with a queue of Black and Whites seemingly waiting for the ball, the in-form Brad Ward caught it and touched down.

Myles Harrison added the extras.

However, Heworth were poor for the remainder of the half, not least in defence, and Stanley demonstrated their superiority in attack, the loose-forward completing his treble.

In the second half, though, Heworth took the game to their visitors.

From the base of a scrum, players’ player-of-the-match Harrison evaded his marker and darted in to cut the gap.

The Villagers by now had their tails up and, soon, a determined Leon Mooring somehow managed to crash over in the corner with several defenders around him.

The dependable Rutland also stepped around some poor defence to narrow the score again.

None of the conversions were added but it was still now a four-point game with all to play for.

However, the thorn in Heworth’s side struck again to decide the outcome.

Heworth U12s’ new kit followed several weeks of fundraising by the team and main sponsorship from Shaun Palmer Scaffolding.

The team also sold raffle tickets and made a draw to secure secondary sponsorship, while players came up with kit designs and voted on their favourite, which was produced by Xamax They have thanked Trading Trowels, Imago Travel, Horwell brothers, Sgt Peppers takeaway, CC Motor Services, and Hall and Wall.