HEWORTH ARLC made the right call to drop out of the National Conference League and join the Yorkshire Men’s League.

That was the view of club official Ken Sykes ahead of their home match against Normanton ‘A’ in division two on Saturday (2.30pm).

The Villagers’ unbeaten start to life in the YML ended with a 38-18 loss to Shaw Cross ‘A’ last week but Sykes said the competitive games justified their decision to quit the NCL after several years struggling in its bottom tier.

“I think it’s all reaffirmed why the decision was made really,” he said. “We’ve had three games. The first two were close matches and we managed to win them, which gives you a better feeling.

“Last week Shaw Cross were a really strong team - their captain, John Rourke, used to be captain of the National Conference Eagles (the NCL’s representative team) and is a really good player. But up until ten or 12 minutes from time, we were just four points adrift.

“We’ve had three competitive games and this weekend’s will be another tester - Normanton beat Shaw Cross. Sometimes you don’t know what team you’ll get as their first team might call up players, but we’re happy with where we’re at, at the moment.

“It’s a long-term project to get back to where we’d like to be but we’re enjoying it.”

Heworth are likely to miss hooker Sam Atkinson and centre Gareth Watson this weekend due to injury but Ben Stoker could come in.

York Acorn have no game in NCL division one but first-teamers Davey Burns and Tim Stubbs - who won his fifth man-of-the-match award in seven outings this season in last weekend’s defeat by Myton - will both get run-outs in Acorn ‘A’s Yorkshire Men’s League division one match against Sheffield Hills - borough Hawks.

Head coach Scott Rhodes, with one eye on next week’s game against unbeaten Kells, said: “Davey can only play one week in two due to work commitments so it’s about giving him some game time and fitness.

“Tim is a big lad and he maybe struggles if he has a week off - some lads benefit from a rest, some don’t. He was man of the match for us again and we want to keep that momentum going.”

York Lokomotive, who took part in the Majorca Beach Rugby Tournament last weekend, have no YML division three game this week.