Stags fight back to earn point on tricky Acorn trip

The Stags made a bright start and took a 10th minute lead when Braden Hunter broke down the right wing and slipped a pass to send Harry Burgess over for the opening try.

Hunter broke through again and raced over for Mirfield’s second try out wide as the visitors led 8-0 inside the opening quarter.

York hit back with a 24th minute try between the posts and added a second shortly after, with both conversions putting them 12-8 ahead.

Scott Bradley was held up in the in-goal area as Acorn held their four-point lead at half-time.

York added a third converted try when a high kick bounced fortunately before the Stags battled back.

With York attacking again, Jordan O’Halloran intercepted a pass deep inside his own half and raced away for a terrific individual try, which Ross Hayden converted.

Sam Thornton was tackled inches short of the try line before York looked to have scored again but Graham Charlesworth produced an excellent tackle to hold the attacker up in goal.

O’Halloran grabbed his second try after 67 minutes but, crucially, the kick was missed and the sides were level at 18-18.

Mirfield had chance to snatch victory late on but Charlesworth’s attempted drop goal was narrowly wide.

The Stags lie second-bottom in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Bowling.

MirfieldStags Academy fought back from an early 12-0 deficit to defeat Moldgreen 25-24 in Division Five.

The Stags Academy trailed 12-0 inside the first quarter but pulled a try back before half-time.

The sides were nip and tuck throughout the second half and were level at 24-24 after 60 minutes but the Stags snatched victory with a late drop-goal.