Bradford Dudley Hill 24, York Acorn 25

A fluke drop goal may have sealed Dudley Hill's fate in a see-saw National Conference Division One encounter but the defining moment arrived early in the second half when lively hooker Liam Brentley was carried off.

He suffered an ankle injury in the process of scoring his second try.

A revamped Hill outfit hit by late withdrawals made a dreadful start when poor cover tackling saw Acorn full back Dan Liddell complete a weaving 40-metre run to the posts and scrum half Craig Fox slotted home the extras.

The York visitors showed scant respect for Hill's table-topping credentials by wasting two chances.

However, it was clear they were not going to be denied for long and when a high bomb was hoisted into the corner, wingman Damo Hilton collected to touch down. Fox hit the wrong side of the posts with his conversion attempt.

Hill's Brentley took the game by the scruff of the neck by taking a quick tap and run to gallop into the York red zone and, when prop Sean Dickinson prised open a gap, the hooker backed up on the inside for a cracking try. It was far enough in to leave scrum half Liam Jarvis a comfortable conversion.

The visitors resumed the attack and wingman Steve Mackley was fortunate to get the benefit of the doubt when he was awarded a try in the corner after taking out the flag to close the half 14-6 in Acorn's favour.

Hill clawed back the deficit when Sean Dickinson and Brentley staged a repeat performance of their earlier repertoire but the joy was short-lived as the No 9 was led off the field en route to hospital.

Jarvis made sure of full reward but at 14-12 and all to play for, the visitors hit the straps with two tries and a conversion to establish a clear advantage.

Centre Alex Dickinson produced a piece of sheer class to send winger Neil Wall scorching to the whitewash for a valuable six-pointer.

But the York side had a stroke of luck when the crucial drop-goal attempt hit the post and dropped inches over the bar to count in their tally. Packman Liam Jordon crossed after sustained pressure and Jarvis made sure of a grandstand finish but Acorn held out.

At least Hill had some cause to celebrate as title-chasing rivals Wigan St Judes also lost to retain the status quo at the top.