YORK Acorn RLFC head coach Leigh Paul-Rientoul has hailed his side’s shift in attitude ahead of their first away game of the 2018 campaign.

On Saturday, the Thanet Road outfit travel to the Kingstone Press National Conference League division one’s second-bottom side Pilkington Recs who have lost both their games so far.

Acorn, meanwhile, lie third, but are the only team in the division with a 100 per cent winning record, with three from three.

The first of those was a straightforward 20-12 victory over Featherstone Lions. The following two were far less routine, with Acorn fighting back from 10 points down to beat Bradford Dudley Hill 24-22 and winger Callum Worthington scoring a last-minute try to complete a 20-point comeback in last week’s 36-32 win over Oulton Raiders.

And Paul-Rientoul believes the manner of these wins to be an improvement over last season’s mentality when Acorn appeared to play with the expectation of winning after having been relegated from the premier division the season previously.

However, the coach has warned that their trip to St Helens to face Pilks will present yet another challenge the team will have to adjust for.

He said: “We’ve probably a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride before we get there.

“Ahead of home games, you can talk about making it a fortress, but away is a different story. It’s not going to be easy.

“Pilkington play on a 4G surface which they are used to, but we’re going to train with York City Knights tonight on theirs.

“(The Oulton comeback) is something they wouldn’t normally do. Last season they would’ve just gotten disheartened and given up.

“We have been working on attitude and working for each other, not having a go if someone gives a penalty away or drops a ball.

“Last year we maybe thought we’d turn up and beat teams, but we know now that we’ve got to turn up and play as a team.

“We definitely want to finish in the play-offs. I’m not going to stand here and say we want to come first and win the league because a play-off spot is more realistic.”

Matthew Woods is unavailable for the weekend and Jimmy Elliott’s shoulder injury will be assessed, but Jack Burns could come back into contention.

Acorn will also be keeping a close eye in training on a potential new Australian recruit who could be a like-for-like swap with Elliott.

York Acorn’s ‘A’ team sit bottom of Yorkshire Men’s League division one after their 33-16 opening-day defeat to Oulton Raiders.

Saturday sees them host Skirlaugh Bulls who were edged out 10-8 last weekend at home to division newcomers Hunslet Club Parkside.

Heworth enjoyed a 32-16 win at Hull Wyke last Saturday. This weekend they travel to Cutsyke Raiders who scraped past Keighley Albion 24-22 last week.

New Earswick All Blacks opened their premier division account with a 14-6 loss at last year’s undefeated champions Batley Boys.

On Saturday, Jack Stearman’s side will be looking to move off the foot of the table at the expense of their second-bottom visitors Nottingham Outlaws, who were narrowly beaten 16-14 at Upton.

York Lokomotives were beaten 28-26 last week in the North Yorkshire Invitation Cup by Scarborough Pirates. Last night, Lokos played another cup fixture, this time against Selby Warriors at Featherstone Rovers’ training ground.