YORK Acorn ARLC are praying for a plum derby tie against York City Knights when the Carnegie Challenge Cup third round draw is made tonight.

Acorn, of the National Conference first division, outgunned premier division side Skirlaugh 26-10 on Saturday to book their place in round three, the stage at which Co-operative Championships clubs enter the competition.

Asked if they fancied an all-York clash in the next round, to be played on the weekend of March 24-25, Acorn boss Scott Rhodes, himself a former Knights captain, said: “It would be nice, wouldn’t it.

“It would be a massive draw.

To play your professional home-town team would be exciting. But it’s a long shot and we’re not looking at that yet. It’s going to be a good day out for us whoever we play.”

There are 36 teams in total in the hat, and each of the 13 community clubs involved, plus the two French teams – Toulouse Olympique and Lezignan – and the Royal Navy, who pulled off a big shock in round two by beating National Conference premier side Leigh Miners Rangers, are guaranteed a game against professional opposition in round three. Super League clubs enter in round four.

Rhodes reckoned Acorn would face an almighty undertaking – amateur teams rarely beat pro opposition – regardless of whether they were paired with Championship big-guns or Championship One minnows.

“Whoever we get, from whatever division, it’s going to be a massive task for us to get a win,” said the 31-year-old, when asked if he’d prefer a money-spinning tie or a less glamorous but perhaps more winnable assignment.

“We will go out there whoever we get and look forward to it and give it a big shot.”

As for Saturday’s win, their fourth in as many games this year, Rhodes, who had been confident ahead of the tie, said: “We controlled the ball pretty well, got good field position, and took our chances well. It was an all-round good team performance.

“Our young players want to test themselves against better opposition and I thought we outclassed them.”

Knights general manager Ian Wilson agreed a York derby would be great.

“Acorn,” he said with a smile, when asked whom he’d like the Knights to be drawn against. “It would capture the imagination of the public if it happened. It would be a great occasion for York rugby league.”

Otherwise, Wilson wanted to avoid one of two all-Championships ties. “We want to get a home tie, that’s the main thing really, and ideally we’d like not to be drawn against a team from the Championships.”