ALFIE HILL reckons his York Acorn ARLC side can throw off the shackles now and go all out for a play-off place – starting with a battle royal at high-flying Siddal.

Victory at Wigan St Jude’s virtually made the Blue and Golds safe from relegation in the National Conference premier division, so they can now focus above them on the top six without having to glance over their shoulders at the drop zone.

Hill acknowledges that should mean a change in mentality, given the subtle difference in emphasis between going out to win rather than avoiding defeat, with the players having licence to play with a bit more freedom.

“We dispelled thoughts of relegation with that win,” said Hill. “Widnes St Marie’s and Oulton can’t catch us and, while mathematically we could still go down, it’s very doubtful with the games the other teams have and the fact some of them play each other.

“It relaxes you a bit. It’s not about champagne rugby but you can go for it a bit more, or maybe show a bit of individual flair when previously you wouldn’t dream of trying something in case it goes wrong and leaves you in the mire.

“I’ll tell the lads we’ve got five games left and we’ve got to win four if we want to be in the top six, so let’s get out there and do it, and most of all enjoy it.”

Acorn lie seventh, three points below Wigan St Patrick’s but with a game in hand in the race for sixth. That gap was expected to fall to one point but St Pat’s upset the formbook – yet also increased Acorn’s hopes for this weekend – when winning 10-8 at Siddal last week, a game which doubled-up as a league match and National Cup tie, given the fixture congestion following the bad winter.

Hill said: “We’re still three points behind St Pat’s and in the next two weeks we play Siddal and Leigh Miners away. Realistically we would have to win at least one. But, if St Pat’s lose two on the trot, we’ve got two home games before we play them in the last match. It could go down to the wire. That’s how competitive this league is.”

Second-placed Siddal, who finished top last season, remain favourites on Saturday but Acorn will have almost a full squad to choose from, with Kyle Palmer the only absentee, due to his hamstring injury.

Heworth have one of their better remaining chances to break their season-long duck when they host Milford Marlins in division one.

Milford, though, will be eager for the points to lessen any danger of dropping into the relegation mire.

Heworth ‘A’ go to Castleford Lock Lane ‘A’ in the Yorkshire League Alliance Cup quarter-finals while Acorn ‘A’ visit Selby in the York & District Cup.