EXCITEMENT is filling the York Acorn ARLC camp ahead of the first competitive derby against Heworth in more than six-and-a-half years, according to head coach Scott Rhodes.

The Villagers, meanwhile, big underdogs for Saturday’s Elm Park Way encounter, are taking a more philosophical approach as they continue to seek a formula under new coach Steve Pryce to get themselves ready for the league season proper which begins next March.

The last time the two York rivals met was in a friendly ahead of the 2009-10 season, Acorn walking it 56-0. The last time they met competitively – barring local cup competitions in which ‘A’ teamers often play – was in 2004-05 when Acorn did the double over their cross-city foes en route to back-to-back promotions to the premier division of the National Conference League.

The two clubs’ fortunes have varied markedly since then. Acorn have spent the bulk of the time in amateur rugby league’s elite tier until relegation to division one last season. Heworth, barring one promotion and relegation, have spent much of it in the depths of division two.

The current interim season, ahead of the switch to a full summer season next year, has pitted them together in group ‘G’ of the one-off mini-campaign, and Rhodes is looking forward to the reunion.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said the former York City Knights star, who might have played in that aforementioned friendly for Acorn but counts Heworth among his junior clubs – he played for the old Punch Bowl club and then the Villagers before beginning his professional career in Leeds Rhinos’ academy.

“I spoke to a lot of the lads and we’re really looking forward to the game. We might be favourites but it’s a derby and it will be their cup final I suppose.”

Acorn have won two and lost two of their games so far, most latterly to premier division club West Hull, 22-16. Heworth are yet to win and were thumped by amateur big-guns Skirlaugh last week.

But Rhodes said: “They will raise their game – we aren’t going to be taking them lightly. Whoever plays best will come away with the spoils. But we’re quietly confident.”

He added: “I enjoyed playing there (for Heworth) when I was a kid. It’s a good club. For some reason they haven’t had the players coming through in recent years, and for some reason when a few players dropped out of the Knights set-up, they went to New Earswick All Blacks or Acorn rather than Heworth.

“We’ve had a few players coming through the system at Acorn, which is good.”

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes was hoping the Villagers’ pack could be bolstered by experienced forward Sam Clarke, who has not been a regular in the last few years and is currently struggling with a shoulder injury, Adam Jobling, who has had a knee problem, and Luke Judson, who has had an arm injury.

Sykes says whatever team is put out will “give it their best shot” but concedes they are big underdogs.

“We were never going to win against Skirlaugh – it was always going to be a case of damage limitation. It’s going to be really tough against Acorn as well,” he said.

“They seemed to have picked themselves up (after relegation) and although they got beat last week they were playing a premier division side and, if they do as well as that against them, then they will do well in the first division.

“There’s a fair gulf between them and us. There will be a fair bit of local interest – it’s a local derby – and we will give it a good go, but we’re fairly big underdogs.

“We’re fairly philosophical about this interim league – it’s a bit of a hotch-potch of matches and we’ve got a few tough ones – but we’ve got to battle through.”

Acorn ‘A’ go to Stanley Rangers ‘A’ and Heworth ‘A’ host recent conquerors Northallerton in the Yorkshire Men’s League.