Last Gasp Walshy Cracks Acorn’s Nut

By: Graham Henthorne

York Acorn 32 v 36 Thatto Heath Crusaders

A try in the second minute of injury time was enough to seal a fantastic come form behind win for Heath. The sweeping move was finished in superb fashion by Walshy who gathered his own grubber to waltz past the statuesque fullback and send the visiting Heath hordes into raptures of delight.

Heath got the best of all starts as Daz intercepted an Acorn pass to stroll under the posts from 40 metres out giving Quinny the easiest of conversions.

As we’ve found to our cost in the past, Acorn are a strong side at home and they proceeded to storm back into the game with the old foes of Embleton, Palmer and Callaghan to the fore. They were soon level capitalising on a Heath knock on to level the scores.

Within 10 minutes they’d scored twice more and the game looked like it was going to turn into the training run for next week that everyone expected.

But Quinny had other ideas breaking 40 metres down the left before feeding DJ who almost apologetically went the next 40 to score in the corner. Quinny’s excellent touchline conversion kept Heath in it.

It was nip and tuck with both sides giving it their all until on the stroke of half time Acorn scored a converted try to go in 12 points to the good.

The second half opened with Acorn going 3 scores to the good with a penalty for a offside.

Having lost AB early in the first half it was left to Legger and Beechy to galvanise the pack and when Acorn knocked on in their own 10 metre area Heath pounced. Matty Bell, showing great defence until a knock forced his withdrawal and Froddy went close but as Stotty ran the ball left Daz took the drop off pass and shimmied his way unopposed to the posts.

Back came the home side and the 3 score advantage was restored as Heath were caught short down the left flank.

That was it thought most of us. But the resilience shown today was outstanding. Froddy and Kenny Hughes, who took a massive blow from a man twice his size but defied the jeers of the home crowd to get back up and at ‘em, drove the ball in. From the play the ball Stotty ran at the line and gave a peach of a pass to put Glenn in for his first try of the season.

20 minutes to go and the home crowd were getting nervous. They could see that they hadn’t put us to bed. In fact, far from it, Heath were finishing the stronger. Quick hands from Kenny to Jamie put Daz away down the left only to see the chance go begging as he couldn’t find his support.

Quinny’s pass to Jamie Hill went to ground with the centre inches away and with it Heath’s chance seemed to have gone.

Stotty gave us the grandstand finish we hoped for jinking his way to the line to put Heath within 2. Acorn seemed to have won the game as the left winger went for the corner but heroic defence from a gaggle of players in the black and red kept him out forcing the turnover.

1 minute and 90 metres to go. Easy!! A couple of drives took us away from the line. The ball was moved left and more ground was gained. Then from just over half way Stotty flung a wide ball to the right, DJ took it on before feeding Walshy 30 metres out. He took it on, grubbered past the cover and the rest is history. Quinny’s conversion was the icing on the cake.

This was a magnificent team performance from a team who never stopped believing and not once lay down. From 1 to 17 there were heroics, Lamby recovering from his knock to come back on and continue the fight. Beechy firing himself and the lads up when it was most needed. Roll on the next round, with this determination no-one should be feared.

Martin Shea picked up the Hattons Solicitors Man of the Match Award while Kenny Hughes was voted best by the Spectators.

 

York Acorn

1. Steve Mackley

2. Damien Hilton

3. Kyle Palmer

4. Mark Sanderson

5. Jonny Waldron

6. John Liddell

7. Tim Elliott

8. Dave Burns

9. Andy Gargan

10. Mike Embleton

11. Steve Ramsey

12. Tommy Hill

13. Darren Callaghan

14. Simon Wadsworth

15. Lee Franks

16. Nick Ventress

17. Martin McTigue

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders

1. Shaun Quinn

2. Darren Woods

3. Jamie Hill

4. David Johnson

5. Adam Walsh

6. Andy Stott

7. Chris Frodsham

8. Mick Ledger

9. Kenny Hughes

10. Glenn Holland

11. Mark Beech

12. Andy Bailey

13. Mark Beech

14. Scott Clarke

15. Carl Lamb

16. Mathew Bell

17. Martin Shea

 

York Acorn:

 

Tries : Kyle Palmer, Tim Elliott, Andy Gargan, Mike Embleton, Darren Callaghan.

Goals : Kyle Palmer 6.

Drop Goals :.

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders:

 

Tries : Darren Woods 2, David Johnson, Adam Walsh, Andy Stott, Glenn Holland.

Goals : Shaun Quinn 6.

Drop Goals :.

 

Half Time : York Acorn 24

Thatto Heath Crusaders 12

 

Full Time : York Acorn 32

Thatto Heath Crusaders 36

 

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