YORK Acorn ARLC boss Leigh Paul-Rientoul has demanded his promotion-chasing side show more hunger again after their five-match winning run came to an abrupt end.

Acorn lost 22-6 at Normanton last week and, while they have stayed fourth in National Conference League division one, they are not yet guaranteed a play-off place with two games to go, while a home semi-final is certainly back in the balance, with the Blue and Golds now only one point above the two teams below them.

This Saturday (2.30pm), they host a Hunslet Warriors side fighting relegation, before finishing away to Featherstone Lions on September 30.

Said Paul-Rientoul: "It was disappointing last week, especially to think we had maybe our strongest side out. It goes to show that's not always the best thing.

"We lacked hunger. The effort was there, but Normanton just wanted it more than us. They're still pushing to get in the play-offs.

"I just think we went there a bit too relaxed, thinking we can beat anyone, after five straight wins.

"We can't do that again. Hunslet Warriors are fighting to stay up so this will be a tough one."

The top two - Underbank and Hunslet Club Parkside - have already banked the automatic promotion spots, and the teams who finish third and fourth get home semi-finals against the teams in sixth and fifth respectively.

Acorn require only a point to be sure of the top six but victories are needed to finish third or fourth.

Paul-Rientoul said: "In some ways I'm glad this (defeat) has come up now rather than us getting to the play-offs and then having that attitude in the semi-final.

"We made sure all the players attended training this week and hopefully the attitude, that hunger, will be better, starting this weekend."

He added: "It's unlikely but if we lose both our games there's a danger of not getting in the play-offs at all. We're still after that home semi-final too."

Acorn will be without in-form half-back Lewis Lord and forward Reece Rushworth on Saturday, both unavailable.

Paul-Rientoul is considering putting Matt Chilton back to half-back from full-back, with Mark Sanderson, showing form again on his return to the first team, taking the number one shirt, and top try-scorer Ryan Gallacher, who was on the bench last week, starting again in the centres.

* SELBY Warriors kick off their Pennine League season on Saturday away to Dearne Valley Bulldogs.

With several more club switching to summer rugby, the winter Pennine League has had another restructure and now comprises only 42 teams.

There are 11 in the top "championship" tier, with 11 in division two central, 10 in division two east - including Selby - and 10 in division two west.