YORK Acorn ARLC step into something of the unknown on Saturday as they face league newcomers Ovenden on their re-turfed Thanet Road pitch.

The West Yorkshire side made the step back up to the National Conference League this season after several years' exile in the Pennine League, beginning with a defeat at last year's bottom club, Millom, followed by a 36-32 win over Widnes St Marie's.

Acorn coach Dave Kay, whose side lost their opening day clash at Crosfields, said: "We don't know a great deal about them. It's a return to the Conference for them but they've held their own in the Pennine premier division, which is fairly competitive. But our aim is a win on home soil to get our season kicked off."

Kay will be without the unavailable Danny Liddell but welcomes back Mick Hagan (injury), Andy Gargan (unavailable), new dad Paul Day (family commitments) and Alan Willitts (work), so has 20 names to choose from.

Heworth travel to Widnes hoping it is them and not St Marie's who return to winning ways.

The Villagers lost their opening day clash against title favourites Ince Rosebridge - as well as Liam Cochrane to a broken leg, the hooker's horrible run of injuries from last season continuing into this.

But they enjoyed a victory in the corresponding fixture last season and spokesman Ken Sykes said: "We played reasonably well last week and, although the injury to Liam is a downer, we should go there with a degree of confidence."

St Marie's began last season brilliantly but fell away after coach Bobbie Goulding left for Rochdale Hornets, but Sykes reckons Heworth, for whom Nikki Wilson is also unavailable, should be on their guard.

"We've had some reasonably tough matches there before and we're expecting not much difference," he said.

Heworth 'A' host Sharlston 'A' in Yorkshire League division three (ko 2.30pm) with Sykes calling on the squad players to maintain their commitment. He said: "We appreciate how important having an 'A' team is so we're hoping the players support it."

Acorn 'A' face Illingworth 'A' in PL division four, while in the division below, Selby Warriors hope to continue where they left off last week against York Groves by also beating West Craven Warriors away.

York Groves take an early break from Pennine League action as they host East Leeds in a tough Tetley's Yorkshire Cup first round clash.

The Terriers welcome 17-year-old former Hull Academy player Chris Corr in for his debut in the pack, linking up with brother Matt in the second row, and hope Paul Fairclough can shake off a dead leg and that Dean Kilbride has a big game at scrum-half.

East Leeds 'A' team play in Yorkshire League division three - a similar standard to Groves - but their first team, who play in the NCL first division, have no league game and Groves player-coach Simon Moat reckoned: "I think it will be a fair mix of first and second-teamers so it will be difficult."

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, September 09, 2004