HEWORTH are quickly learning to take nothing for granted in the Yorkshire Men’s League against an assortment of ‘A’ teams.

The Villagers, having struggled in the last few years in the National Conference League, stepped down to the YML on the eve of the season with a view to rebuilding by being more competitive.

They won three of their first four games in division two but have since followed with a defeat to lowly Featherstone Lions ‘A’ and a draw with bottom club Elland ‘A’ last time out a fortnight ago.

Now sitting third, still only a point off the top, they entertain an East League ‘A’ side who are lying third-bottom on Saturday (2.30pm) but Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said they know not to expect anything easy.

“They’re all tight games,” he said. “We beat East Leeds 30-22 away from home on the first day of the season and it was quite a good game. I’m pretty sure this will be another tight one.

“We’re doing okay. Most of the teams in our division are National Conference League second teams and there are some decent players in there. If they don’t have a first-team game or have a strong pool to pick from, these teams can be very good.”

As for the Villagers’ form, Sykes added: “We’ve had a fair turnout of players and, for one reason or another, we haven’t really had a settled team. I think when we get our best team out we will do okay.

“We had a weak-ish team against Featherstone and we probably should have won that game.”

The Villagers are hopeful Josh Poulter and Christian Pollock will be fit to return on Saturday.

Heworth ‘A’ were to have a game in the entry division away to Thornhill ‘A’ but the Trojans’ first team were drawn at home in the Conference Challenge Trophy and that match takes precedence. Thornhill only have one pitch and were unwilling to switch it to Heworth so the game will be rearranged.

York Acorn, who dropped to fifth in NCL division one last week after defeat at Normanton Knights, have a rest this weekend after opting not to play in the Conference Challenge Trophy this year.

Boss Scott Rhodes explained: “With there being 26 league games, plus the Challenge Cup, we thought it might be too many games so we (the first team) haven’t got involved in the other cups.”

He added: “We’d have preferred to play this week after getting beaten last week. It was a close game and we put a lot of effort into it but we fell short after making too many errors.”

Some players may be asked to rediscover form in Acorn ‘A’s YML division one game at Hull Wyke. The Blue and Golds currently top that table.

York Lokomotive, meanwhile, go to Leeds Akkies in division three looking to build on last week’s big win at Slaithwaite Saracens.