YORK Acorn ARLC's 'A' team have had three players selected for the Yorkshire Men's League representative squad that will tour Serbia in June - with coach Leigh Paul-Rientoul going with them.

Prop James Bromwich, winger Luke Swales and veteran forward Mike Embleton have been selected for the side and Paul-Rientoul, a BARLA Coach of the Year nominee last term, has been named the team's coach.

It will be the second such tour for the YML rep side after they travelled to Ukraine last year.

Fundraising events are taking place to raise money for the Acorn quartet to travel - with Paul-Rientoul and five players having completed a sponsored Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge on Sunday just a day after Saturday's bruising derby against Heworth.

Anyone interested in sponsorship can phone Paul-Rientoul on 07854 378293.

After last week's win, meanwhile, Acorn 'A' face a second YML Forty-20 Cup derby as they nip down the road to Knavesmire to face York Lokomotive.

The Lokos kicked off with victory at Featherstone Lions 'A' but will come up against a Blue and Golds outfit who have already outlined a desire to prove they are the second best amateur side in York behind their National Conference League first team.

That Acorn first team, meanwhile, have a weekend off - but not a welcome one, according to boss Scott Rhodes, as they get used to the hard life back in the premier division.

Rhodes' men, who opened with a 58-12 defeat to Lock Lane last week, were to host Pilkington Recs on Saturday but the St Helens side will instead be in Challenge Cup action having knocked out semi-pro League One opposition in London Skolars to reach this weekend's fourth round.

That result, along with Lock Lane's similar win over Oxford, underlines the task Acorn face this year in amateur rugby league's elite tier, but Rhodes has called on his side to face the challenge head on.

"We were very flat last week," said the former York City Knights skipper, whose team face an even tougher one next up, in NCL treble winners Leigh Miners Rangers.

"After the York game (heavy defeat to the Knights in the Challenge Cup), the lads are lacking a bit of confidence. Everything was flat - the warm-up, the performance - and the scoreline was probably right.

"We're doing it tough at the minute. Lock Lane are a good side but we helped them.

"We've got to find something and find it quick. I'd have liked to get straight back on the field but that's not to be."

Meanwhile, New Earswick All Blacks have a quick rematch in the winter Pennine League championship as they look to ward off the threat of relegation.

The Pennine League is due a restructure in its off-season, with only five teams left in the premier division and eight in the championship, so demotion is unlikely, but All Blacks would nevertheless not want to finish in their current position in the bottom two.

A much-improved display saw them pipped by leaders Mirfield last week and they host the same opposition this Saturday (2.30pm).

Selby Warriors have a week off in division two while leaders Sherburn Bears host Dewsbury Moor in division four east.