Bradford Dudley Hill 48, York Acorn 14

Bradford Dudley Hill ran in nine tries against a spirited York Acorn side in their final Parry Lane outing this season to keep their National Conference salvation hopes alive and kicking.

Acorn, who are bottom of the Premier Division table and already relegated, arrived with just 13 players and no substitutes but anybody who thought this game would be a walkover were soon rudely awakened.

The York side took an early lead with a penalty before centre Lewis Evans opened the home account with a try in the corner.

The rock-hard surface ensured that both sides were reluctant to tackle anywhere near the legs, which resulted in a succession of jersey grabbing, tugging and throwing that did little to enhance the call for summer rugby.

Hill increased their lead when substitute forward Daz Walker bounced off a defender to touch down under the posts.

Hooker Nathan Kitson added the extras and then produced a scything run that saw Jason Lee over at the corner flag.

Acorn roared back in fine style and were rewarded when second-row forward Jamie Dobbs raced over from a tap-and-run to close the half at 14-6.

York were reduced to 12 men on the restart when prop Mick Embleton retired hurt with a leg injury but once again they defied the odds with a smart try from stand-off Tom Mackley.

Hill loose forward Tony Huby powered over for a converted effort but they could not shake off the dogged visitors, who answered with a try from full back Adam Sellers as he brushed aside Hill wingman Jamie Brentley in a one-on-one chase.

The game continued in a cloud of dust on the bone-hard ground and it was the visitors who finally capitulated, with the walking wounded having no choice but to remain in the fray.

Evans raced in for his brace, soon followed by a short-range stretch from substitute forward Willie Woodhead.

Huby gobbled up his second when Acorn went for a suicidal interception and Woodhead repeated his earlier effort in a final flurry.

Brentley made amends for his lapse when he produced a smart pick-up to sprint to the chalk to put the cap on what on paper was an easy win but in reality was a tough arm-wrestle for most of the game.

Hill must now win at Wath Brow on Tuesday night and hope that rivals Wigan St Patrick’s come unstuck at Siddal at the same time.