York | Archive | 2006 | February | 20
From the archive, first published Monday 20th Feb 2006.
YORK Acorn ARLC have been handed a money-spinning tie in the Powergen Challenge Cup away at LHF National League giants Hull KR.
The Thanet Road amateurs reached the third round - the stage at which National League clubs enter the competition - for the first time in their history thanks to a 35-16 defeat of top Cumbrian outfit Seaton Rangers.
They will now travel to Craven Park on March 11-12 to take on the full-time Super League hopefuls, who beat York City Knights on the opening day of their Northern Rail Cup campaign this month.
The Knights, meanwhile, were drawn away to National Conference division two promotion-chasers Ovenden.
Prolific winger Johnny Waldron added two tries to his season's tally in Acorn's win over a spirited but ultimately outplayed Seaton side.
Rangers came to York with confidence as leaders of the Cumberland League, bolstered by the knowledge Acorn had lost to another Cumbrian team, Hensingham, in the GMB Union National Cup a fortnight ago.
And, although the speedy Waldron put them on the back foot with the opening try on 16 minutes, Dave Sowerby equalised and Rangers' hard-working pack troubled the Blue and Golds, as did full-back Shaun Johnsen.
Nevertheless, Waldron got his and Acorn's second try, scrum-half Andy Gargan booting the first of his goals, while stand-off Andy Lee and Mike Embleton, playing at full-back, also crossed before half-time for a 22-4 interval lead.
Former York City Knights star Darren Callaghan got the scoreboard ticking over in the second half with a try and a couple of Gargan goals kept Acorn on the front foot.
Seaton, though, battled back, despite the loss to a shoulder injury of the impressive Richard George. Paul Watson and Steve Pickering crossed for tries, both goaled by Paul Rooke, to give Acorn something to think about, but they stifled the comeback as Callaghan showed his experience to notch at drop-goal.
A late try by Embleton then sealed the tie.
Knights' round three opponents, Ovenden, beat Lanca-shire Cup holders a North West Counties League title-chasers Blackbrook 38-24 to reach the third round, winger Gareth Jones leading the way with a hat-trick of tries.
Updated: 09:37 Monday, February 20, 2006
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