YORK Acorn are aiming to get their show on the road this weekend in the Kingstone Press Northern Conference League Premier Division.

It has so far been a hesitant start to the season for the York side, who have not had a league game since an opening day 58-12 defeat against Lock Lane.

And it couldn't be any harder on Saturday (2.30pm) for an Acorn side still finding their feet in the top flight.

They head over the Pennines to face early pace-setters Leigh Miners Welfare – opposition who have won both their matches so far this campaign.

Despite that, coach Scott Rhodes insists his side are ready for the early-season test.

He said: "It has been a stop-start build up and, with the Challenge Cup and holidays, we have not had the games. However, we have spent time in preparation for the trip to Leigh.

"They won the treble last season and are already showing they are a useful team.

"I have been pleased with a couple of our performances but we still have a lot to prove – I am sure we will take our best team to Leigh but we are expecting a very, very tough game.

"It is a game where we know we will have to tackle our socks off. We have a young squad but we have a lot of talent, we just have to put it all together to get the performances we want consistently."

Rhodes wants to see his side making improvements with every game and taking the results of their preparation on the training field into competitive matches.

"Against York City Knights and Castleford Lock Lane, we were not good enough – we must up our game," he added.

He also explained that the club has effectively united its three senior sides, giving him the chance to call on a wider range of players who can be involved in matches across the leagues.

Rhodes explained: "We have the three open age sides now, so anyone who impresses in training has a chance of making it into the first team."

l YORK Acorn's A team remain on course for the Yorkshire Men's League Forty-20 title following a comprehensive 34-4 win against Norland Sharks last weekend.

They remained unbeaten in the group stages, having also defeated Heworth and York Locomotives, while being awarded a 24-24 draw with Skirlaugh Bulls.

The line-up are in semi-final action on Saturday, at home to Shaw Cross Sharks A (2.30pm), as they go in search of a fourth straight final in the competition.