IT'S derby day again in the Yorkshire Men's League's Forty20 Cup on Saturday as New Earswick All Blacks ARLC host neighbours Heworth - looking at perhaps targeting trophy success in the competition.

All Blacks, formerly of the winter Pennine League, have begun life in summer season rugby in fine style, beating York Acorn 'A' in their opening group match of this pre-season cup before thrashing Featherstone Lions 'A' 48-4 with a much-changed team.

With Acorn being the cup holders, it has left All Blacks player-coach Jack Stearman thinking they might just surprise a few people.

"We've started out really well, especially considering we haven't played for nine months after switching seasons," he said.

"We're keen to carry that on, getting one over on our neighbours as well.

"We've begun perhaps better than we expected. We made seven changes last week, too, to the side that beat Acorn, and it was good to see we still stuck to what we wanted to do and got the result."

Heworth have lost to North Hull Knights and Bentley in their first two games.

Asked if that made New Earswick favourites this Saturday (2.30pm), Stearman said: "You can never say with games like these.

"It's a long time since we played each other but I would like to think we were favourites at home."

All Blacks and Heworth joined forces over Christmas for the charity East v West "State of Yorigin" match involving York's four amateur clubs, and Stearman added: "We played alongside some of these guys and a lot of people know each other, so it would be really good to get one over on your mates as well."

Meanwhile, Acorn 'A', who have reached the final of the Forty20 Cup in all four years it has been run, have started this year's expanded competition with two defeats. They go to Skirlaugh 'A' on Saturday for their third group game.