YORK Acorn ARLC boss Dave Kay reckons their week off has come at just the right time after seeing prop Lee McTigue hit by a whopping suspension.

The Blue and Golds, whose promotion tilt has stuttered with just one point gleaned from the last three games, have now been hindered further by a ten-match ban for McTigue, effectively ruling him out for the season.

Carl Barrow and Paul Payne also have two games more to run on their suspensions, while Acorn have also suffered a glut of injuries in recent weeks - including the serious broken leg for full-back Kev Brundrett - with Chris Hopcutt and Mick Hagan the latest on the treatment table.

Kay said: "This weekend off has come at quite a nice time. All the players with short-term injuries expect to be fit by the following week so hopefully we will be back stronger."

McTigue had been sent off against Stanningley three weeks ago for fighting and the use of foul language.

Kay added: "He came out of it with a broken nose and we feel a bit badly done by on that."

Heworth's battle to escape the re-election zone goes to Ovenden on Saturday (kick off 2pm) where a shock win could not only lift them out of the bottom two but also do Acorn a favour.

The Villagers gave themselves hope of avoiding the need for a second successive re-election bid by beating Huddersfield Sharks last weekend, a result that moved them just one point behind the Sharks with a game in hand.

That game in hand, though, is Saturday's difficult assignment at Ovenden, who lie fifth and have had the benefit of a week off.

A surprise victory, though, would lift the Villagers above the Sharks and probably also Cottingham Tigers, who face second-placed Ince Rosebridge.

Such a result would also aid Acorn as it would effectively knock Ovenden out of the promotion race leaving the Blue and Golds as one of four teams seeking the three promotion places.

York Acorn 'A' are eyeing a giant-killing of sorts as they aim for a place in the last four of the Pennine League's Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy.

The Blue and Golds reserves, whose title tilt in division four took a dent last week with a defeat to Drighlington 'A', are keen to bounce straight back to winning ways but to do so will have to bridge a one-division gap to Boothtown Terriers.

Boothtown lie fourth in division three only two behind the top three and have home advantage so will be favourites to triumph in this quarter-final tie. Kick off is 2pm.

Heworth 'A' will need to glean maximum points on Saturday if their hopes of a top-four place in Yorkshire League division three are to stay alive.

The Villagers reserves lie fifth, four points off fourth-placed Eastmoor 'A', who are the visitors to Elmpark Way this weekend. Defeat for Heworth would leave them needing a miracle to overhaul the gap in their last four league games.

Updated: 09:45 Thursday, February 17, 2005