First stop on the Carnegie Challenge Cup 2010 tour was York Acorn ARLFC First round tie against Thatto Heath on Saturday 23 January. The Cup took pride of place in the club house with supporters, club members and club sponsors all given the opportunitiy to have their picture taken with the prestigous trophy.

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 Adam Walsh who gathered his own grubber to send Heath into the next round.

Heath got the best of all starts as Darren Woods intercepted an Acorn pass to stroll under the posts from 40 metres.
But three converted tries put the home side firmly in control.
Shaun Quinn's 40 metre break down the left before feeding David Johnson kept Heath in it and it was nip and tuck 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 an Acorn penalty putting them going 3 scores to the good.
But Mick Ledger and Mark Beech galvanised the Heath pack forcing an Acorn knock on Matty Bell and Chris Frodsham went close before Andy Stott's pass saw Woods score again.

The home side restored the 3 score advantage before on the hour the Heath comeback started.
Frodsham and Kenny Hughes drove the ball in and from the play the ball Stott ran at the line putting Glenn Holland in for the try.
Heath were finishing the stronger. Stott jinked his way to the line to put Heath within 2 but heroic defence forced an Acorn turnover.
With 1 minute and 90 metres to go Heath worked the ball steadily to the half way line. Stott spread the ball right and Johnson fed Walsh 30 metres out. He took it on, grubbered past the cover and took the bouncing ball to score. Quinn'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.

Next stop for the Carnegie Challenge Cup will be HMS Victory,  Naval Base, Portsmouth for the second round draw on Tuesday 26 January.