NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC will again have no game this weekend as injuries continue to wreak havoc at White Rose Avenue - though the silver lining means they too can switch focus onto the big rugby league match of the weekend in York.

All Blacks had to forfeit their Pennine League championship game at Queensbury last weekend, being punished with a fine and two-point deduction to land themselves back in relegation danger.

They have asked league bosses for no game this Saturday, too, a request which has been granted, with All Blacks having played more fixtures than anyone else in their division.

The only game in York this weekend, therefore, is the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie between York City Knights and York Acorn ARLC.

All Blacks player-coach Jack Stearman said: "Because of the injury situation and a few people working away we're going to have another weekend off.

"The league have been understanding of the fact we've got unforeseen injuries - there's nothing you can do about that.

"Hopefully we'll get a physio down (tonight) and we'll see the players and go from there."

Stearman, a former Knights player, will be among the Bootham Crescent crowd on Sunday for the Challenge Cup derby.

Of that match he said: "I think it's really good for the city. It's bringing rugby league people together and everyone is getting excited about it.

"Whatever the outcome, what better than to have the Knights' first competitive game at Bootham Crescent against Acorn?

"It's caught the imagination nationally as well - a lot of people have been talking about York rugby league, and it's been great for early rounds of the Challenge Cup."

Asked if Acorn had a chance, Stearman pointed to Acorn's fellow National Conference League outfit Wath Brow running Keighley Cougars close in the iPro Sport Cup, before being edged out 10-4.

He said: "It's what dreams are made of. Fair play to Acorn - they've earned this draw and if they give it a good go, you never know.

"Look at Wath Brow last weekend. The Knights can't rest on their laurels."

Selby Warriors also have a weekend off in Pennine League division two, while Sherburn Bears go to East Leeds for a table-top clash in division four east aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign.

It promises to be another tough encounter for the Bears after they fell 32-18 to a new-look Allerton Bywater 'A' last week.

Allerton recently withdrew their first team from the championship and so have bolstered their division four outfit, rising up the table since. Depleted Sherburn were also hit by a flu bug.

Allerton struck first but, after a couple of penalties, Sherburn's reshuffled half-back pairing of Connor Jordan and Rob Culshaw crafted a score for front-rower Dec Lewis.

Good work out wide from centre Matt Savage and winger Dom Romans then opened the defence before good footwork saw hooker Jaffa Johnson cross, Jordan goaling both tries.

Allerton went 16-12 ahead before good approach work from Bears stand-in full-back Jordan Richards helped set the platform for stand-off Jordan to score and convert.

However, the second half was a war of attrition on a boggy pitch and, with many Sherburn players struggling with illness, Allerton bagged three tries without reply, despite the huge efforts of Bears man-of-the-match captain Ray Boyes.