YORK Acorn ARLFC slumped to their second National Conference League division defeat of the season when beaten 14-10 at at Milford Marlins.

It took until well into the second half before the blue and golds really got going and from that point they were always chasing the match.

Host Milford opened the scoring on 14 minutes when good backing up from Aaron Jones-Bishop saw him cross the line.

A lot of the duel was played in centre field with few chances for either side and it took until the 38th minute before Jones-Bishop capitalised on slack Acorn defence to again go under the posts.

Acorn had a let-off when Ryan Oxtoby missed the goal from right in front.

Acorn’s performance improved in the second half with Nick Caldwell employing all his power to get over. Anthony Chilton goaled.

The match continued to be nip and tuck with Acorn having better field position.

The game-breaker came on 74 minutes when, after a scrum and a quick play the ball, hooker Josh Parle galloped 40 yards to score. Oxtoby goaled. John Waldron came off the bench to crash over on 78 minutes and Acorn threw everything into the final minutes, but could not cross.

Acorn’s best were Aaron Thompson, Nick Caldwell Nick Speck and Steve Mackley.

Heworth crashed 54-6 to hosts Shaw Cross in division two.