YORK Acorn will be without prop Lee McTigue for the rest of the season after he was banned by the Arriva Trains Conference League's disciplinary committee.

McTigue had been sent off in Acorn's division two game against Huddersfield Sharks last month and has now been found guilty by the committee of kicking.

The Blue and Golds' run-in - they have five games left - sees them travel to promotion-seeking Rochdale Mayfield on Saturday.

It promises to be a tough ask for Dave Kay's men as third-placed Mayfield have a fine home record, are two points off top spot with a game in hand and only last week ran National League Two side London Skolars close in the Challenge Cup third round.

Heworth will be aiming to bounce back from last week's Accident Cup defeat to New Earswick and keep their slim hopes of getting out of the re-election zone alive.

Brendan Carlyle's men won their previous division two game and need to follow that up at home to Ince Rose Bridge, who have enjoyed a fine inaugural season in the Conference.

Carlyle, who should have Lee Clarke and Nikki Wilson returning after injury, said: "They were one of the favourites at the beginning of the season and they've done all right. We were beating them at half-time last time we played and hopefully we can go one step further this time."

York Groves could do promotion-seeking Selby Warriors and York Acorn 'A' a favour by beating Thornton in Pennine League division five.

The Warriors are one place below third-placed Thornton in the race for the top two, which is being led by Acorn.

Selby themselves will try again to beat third division outfit Morley Borough in the last 16 of the Pennine League's Shipley Cup.

The Warriors have enjoyed giant-killing acts already in the competition but face arguably their toughest of the lot in this Sandhill Lane clash.

Acorn 'A' will also vie to beat a team from a higher tier as they fact fourth division side Wyke.

Updated: 08:56 Thursday, February 12, 2004