ENDING the season on a high - and putting down a marker for next year - is what New Earswick All Blacks boss Jack Stearman wants when this side finish off their league campaign at King Cross Park.

Third place in the Pennine League Championship is up for grabs and Stearman, who helped the White Rose Avenue outfit power into the final of the York & District Cup last time out, wants his men to grab it with both hands.

Hailing the 24-14 victory over York Acorn in the cup last four as All Blacks’ “best performance for a long time”, he insisted the onus was now on ending the league year as strongly as possible.

“It’s been a stop start season,” Stearman said. “Our goal is to finish as high as we can and also win some silverware. We are in the final of the York & District Cup and to finish third (in the league) would be really important to push forward.”

All Blacks can be caught by King Cross, who have played three fewer games than their opponents this weekend, but a win for New Earswick would push the gap between the two teams to six points and all but secure that podium spot.

Stearman added: “Going away there is always a tough ask but we beat them earlier in the season and I think we will get the result we need.

"I was absolutely delighted with the way we played against Acorn. It was the best performance we have had in a long time. I thought we were outstanding.”

Away form has held back Stearman’s men during the season but a run of road success - the Acorn victory made it four wins on the spin - has convinced the All Blacks chief they have turned the tide on their travels.

“We have started to believe we can get results away from home. It is a belief factor and it is important for us to get another result and finish on a high.”

Adam Caddie and Bobby Smith are absent for New Earswick.

Having got off to a winning start, Heworth stay on the road in division two of the Yorkshire Men’s League.

Victors at East Leeds ‘A’ as they began their new life away from the National Conference League, the Elmpark Way outfit head to Hunslet Warriors, who are playing their first game of the campaign.

York Acorn ‘A’ host Siddal ‘A’ in Yorkshire Mens League division one while, in division three, York Lokomotive start their summer campaign at Knottingley Worms.

Acorn saddling up for maximum haul at Rangers

York Press:

IN-FORM: Acorn’s Ryan Gallacher

YORK Acorn will look to build on their solid start to the National Conference League division one season when they go to point-less Saddleworth Rangers.

Head coach Scott Rhodes’ men battered Shaw Cross Sharks last time out - nine tries coming in a 52-26 victory that sees them in third place in the table, two points adrift of leaders Kells and Ince Rose Bridge.

Ryan Gallacher and Lewis Lord, both scoring a brace of tries, shone for the Blue and Golds with Ant Chilton firing six goals in an easy victory for the Thanet Road outfit.

They will be hoping for a similar outcome in Lancashire, with Saddleworth having lost all of their five games so far this season.

Only Wigan St Judes, with six defeats, have a worse record.

Competitive and spirited at Hunslet Rangers last time out, going down 30-20 in defeat, Rhodes will not take Saddleworth likely.

But the league table suggests the game will be a chance for Acorn to consolidate their position towards the head of affairs as they look to build a promotion push back to the premier division.

Selby Warriors and Sherburn Bears are without a game in division four of the Pennine League.