NEW Earswick All Blacks' bid to retain the York & District Cup sees them up against last year’s beaten finalists York Lokomotive – this time at the semi-final stage.

Earswick came out on top in that previous encounter, but their skipper Jack Stearman is adamant this game will be no walkover

He said: "We played them in the final last year and it was very close for an hour.

"I also went to watch them last week and they look a good team – we always expect a tough game from them, especially with it being a derby match."

Despite coming face-to-face in the cup, the two teams don't compete in the same league, with Lokomotive’s summer campaign in the Pennine League just getting underway, whereas Earswick are coming to the end of their winter league action. So, could this have an impact on the outcome?

Stearman added: "Despite us having more game time, our season has been stop-start with the weather meaning it has been a bit topsy-turvy, and we haven’t played for a while.

"We’ve not had as good a season as we would have liked. We've focused on this cup final in recent weeks, and looked to stay fresh."

Elsewhere this weekend, Sherburn Bears host Beeston Broncos in Division Four East of the Pennine League.