Depleted York Acorn managed to hang on for a valuable 34-32 win at basement boys Oldham St Annes in National Conference League division one.

The Blue and Golds had the game in the bag after 77 minutes as they led 34-16, but a 16-point blitz by the home side in the dying minutes had Acorn clinging on at the end.

St Annes opened the scoring on three minutes when winger Sean Thomas caught a cross-field kick to go over and scrum-half Nathan Jewitt converted.

Three minutes later, Steve Doswell took a superb Joe Budd pass to go over under the posts and Eddie Clapham goaled to draw level.

John Waldron cut in from the right-hand side and outwitted four defenders to go over on nine minutes, but St Annes levelled 15 minutes later when Jewitt grounded a loose ball after a kick ahead.

Acorn regained the lead on 32 minutes when centre Joe Burns came back on the angle and Clapham goaled for a 16-10 half-time lead.

A couple of quick play the balls created space for Waldron to gallop 60 yards for a sensational try, which Clapham converted.

St Annes reduced the arrears on 54 minutes when Simon Topping scored in the corner and loose forward Jordan Galloway goaled. On the hour, superb support play saw Tom Hill hand on to Budd, who scored at the side of the posts for Clapham to goal.

Within four minutes Jordan Hyde forced his way over from close range and Clapham made it 34-16.

St Annes ran riot with tries by Paul Garrett, Jordan Hanley and Michael Cadd. Jordan Galloway kicked two goals.

Waldron was man of the match, but youngster Tim Stubbs gave a superb performance as Budd and Danny Caldwell also had big matches.

Meanwhile, a brave Heworth effort was not enough to bring them their first win of the division two campaign as they went down 20-10 at home to Crosfields.

The Villagers led 10-8 at the break, but mistakes cost them dear in the second period.

Crosfields took the lead on ten minutes, but Heworth hit back with two tries by Lewis Worthington, on 16 and 31 minutes, with Harry Deighton converting the second.

However, Crosfields then scored three unanswered tries to win the match.

Chris Varley was the hosts’ man of the match, with good support from Jack Law, Mark Hayes and debutant Carl Durkin.