YORK Acorn ARLC have proven they can beat the best teams in National Conference League division one - now they have to do it on a regular basis.

That’s the verdict of head coach Scott Rhodes ahead of Saturday’s trip to Normanton Knights (2.30pm), a team who did the double over the Blue and Golds last year and who include in their ranks former York City Knights players Richard Blakeway and Steve Lewis.

Acorn’s last outing was a wonderful 38-12 win over the then unbeaten leaders Kells, a result that kept Rhodes’ men third in the table. But he says that will count for little if they follow it up with a shoddy display in West Yorkshire.

“Last season we drew a blank against Normanton,” said Rhodes. “They’ve got some good players and some decent ex-pros.

“They call their ground the graveyard so we know it will be tough. But there are many good teams in the division and it’s always tough.

“It will take a lot for us to improve on our last performance but we’ve got to look for that consistency if we are to be up there come the end of the season.

“The Kells display was as good as I’ve seen at the club for a few years, but it’s no good beating them with that display and then playing badly at Normanton and losing.”

Acorn will be missing a few key men, among them Joe Porter, Davey Burns, Antony Chilton and Nick Speck, and Rhodes was to again dip into the in-form ‘A’ team ranks.

Martin McTigue, Kev Brayshaw and Jake Calam are among these in the running for call-ups.

Rhodes added: “We’ve got to go there with confidence and believe we can win these games.”

York Lokomotive, beaten but unbowed in the York & District Community Cup final against New Earswick All Blacks last week, go to Slaithwaite Saracens in a rearranged Yorkshire Men’s League division three fixture. There are few other games in that league due to Super League’s Magic Weekend.