Bid to dethrone cup foes Victoria

York Acorn will be hoping to make it a full house of wins against Victoria Rangers following Acorn 'A' team's triumph over Rangers 'A' earlier in the season.

The Arriva Trains Conference Division Two side will be hoping to beat the Pennine League premier division outfit when they visit on Saturday.

Coach David Kay said: "They have not been having a good time of it recently but they are in the premier division of a tough league and are in a similar sort of position to us.

"Our second team came up against their second team a few weeks ago and came out on top, so hopefully we can do the same."

But they will have to do it without Paul Dodsworth who has picked up a calf injury, and although Rich Scott is edging ever closer to fitness, he is still struggling with a bad knee, but may return in the next two weeks.

Some good news is that hooker Fran Starkey is set to make a return to the squad, as is back Gary Isles.

Kay added: "Hopefully we can get a result that will set us up for the Heworth game next week."

New Earswick All Blacks will have to up their discipline if they are to stand any chance against North West Counties League high-rollers Haydock.

The St Helens side, who made the Lancashire Cup final last season, are currently second in the premier division with Halton Simms Cross already having claimed the title and will be looking for an easy passage to the third round.

And cheap penalties - as was witnessed in the last All Blacks match against Heworth in the Accident Cup where the count was 16-5 - will only stack the odds further against the CMS Yorkshire League Senior Division team.

Coach Simon Malarkey said: "If we are going to have any chance we will have to improve our discipline - especially with such a step-up in standard. It will be a tough game because it's such a hard draw."

Second row duo Tom Coomber and Pete Johnson are both out with serious knee injuries.

The game will be the first since the All Blacks dumped Arriva Trains Conference team Heworth out of the York and District Accident Cup in a hotly contested and controversial tie - and All Blacks spokesman Charles Rollinson hopes they will be able to tap into that feeling on Saturday.

Struggling Heworth, meanwhile, face familiar league rivals Waterhead away and will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky after two defeats at the Oldham-based team's hands already this season.

Spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It would have been nice to have been drawn against someone new and even better if we were drawn at home, but that's the way it goes.

"We have played them a couple of times already this season because they are in our league. We played them on the first day and didn't do very well and they came here a few weeks ago and it was much closer but we still lost.

"It's hard to call really but I guess they will probably be the favourites."

Injury-plagued Heworth have had to add another name to the ever-growing list of players out after goal-kicking half back Carl Potter broke his thumb last week, forcing him onto the sidelines for the rest of the season.

A replacement is not yet known for the key man but Luke Judson is almost certain to return to the second row after shaking off a shoulder injury.

York Groves will be practically at full strength for their cup tie against Cumberland League division two side Great Clifton - and are confident of their chances with the home draw.

Nigel Ridsdale and player-coach Simon Moat return to centre and prop, respectively, and hopes are high for a good result.

Moat said: "Everybody's reported fit and well and are looking forward to the challenge."

Heworth 'A' meanwhile, will be taking on Eastmoor 'A' at Elm Park Way on Saturday. Kick off 2.30pm.

York Acorn 'A' travel to Bailiff Bridge Panthers in the Pennine League division five hoping to maintain their outstanding form.

Acorn are still top of the table with an impressive won 14 and lost one tally for the season so far. Bailiff Bridge are eighth.

Updated: 09:19 Thursday, February 19, 2004