YORK Acorn ARLC boss Dave Kay has warned his troops to watch out for a Ram-pant Eastmoor side on Saturday.

The Blue and Golds' impressive start to the National Conference League division two campaign, culminating in their record 48-4 derby win over Heworth last week, has put them among the early season pace-setters.

However, they will next face a side who have enjoyed three consecutive wins, including last week's 62-20 hammering of Saddleworth Rangers.

The Dragons began the term indifferently but their player-coach is former Dewsbury Rams boss Andy Fisher and rumour has it he has recruited a few Rams players for his amateur club.

"I expected them to be one of the better teams this year and although they started pretty shakily I believe they have recruited some decent players. We're not taking them lightly."

Acorn came out on top, 14-4, in last year's corresponding fixture and Kay reckoned this too would be tight affair.

"There's nothing to indicate this will be any different," he said. "I'm expecting a close-fought, defensively tight game."

Fran Starkey will have a late fitness test while Andy Lee (work commitments) will join Adam Endersby (suspended) on the sidelines, but Mike Embleton return after unavailability.

Heworth visit mid-table Crosfields knowing they have to improve their defence greatly if they are to climb off the bottom of the table.

They are still searching for their first win of the season and spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It's not looking all that good for us at the moment but the only thing you can do is be ever hopeful, go there and do our best.

"We're not totally down but we've been in better shape obviously. Last week's defeat has not helped us greatly although in parts we played well. Defensively, though, we can't continue to allow six or seven tries in because we're not scoring nearly enough points to overcome it. We have to up our defensive work."

New Earswick All Blacks continue their Yorkshire Cup quest away to Keighley Albion.

The All Blacks, who knocked out York Groves in the second round, will be the underdogs this time round, giving away two divisions in the Pennine League structure to their hosts, who lie fourth in the top tier.

Groves continue their Pennine League division five campaign away to fellow mid-table side West Bowling 'B' aiming to keep in touch with leaders Selby Warriors, for whom half-backs Wayne Fennell and Carl Bardauskas will be wanting to continue their impressive individual scoring runs at Cowling Harlequins.

Both have scored in every league match so far, Fennell grabbing 11 tries in total and Bardauskas eight.

Heworth 'A' have no game in Yorkshire League division three.

Updated: 10:23 Thursday, October 07, 2004