York Acorn boss Dave Kay was shying away from making predictions for the coming season - but hoped other people's low expectations of them might prove beneficial.

The Blue and Golds finished last term just out of the re-election zone and, while Kay was wanting his team to compete better throughout the campaign rather than in fits and starts like last year, he reverted to the old clich of one game at a time.

"We'll be taking each game on its own merits," he said. "Looking at who has been tipped, we're down in 11th or 12th place out of the 14. Quite a lot of people have written us off, but at the end of the day that suits us.

"We will take every game as it comes and hopefully upset a few apple-carts along the way."

Acorn have added a few players to last season's squad, including the recruitment of Carl Barrow from Heworth. Michael Fitzsimmons has signed after being at university, James Morrow returns after a lengthy injury absence and Liam Garside has joined from Normanton Knights.

The exit door has opened, though, with Nicky Caldwell joining former Hull KR Academy team-mates at premier division side Hull Dockers, while several more players will be missing for Saturday's tricky season's opener at relegated Crosfields.

"Crosfields are tipped to be one of the top teams in this division so it's a difficult one to start with," said Kay. "We've also got two or three players injured and two or three on holiday - but I dare say it's a similar scenario for many teams."

York Acorn 'A', champions of Pennine League division five, kick off their division four campaign with a free week.

Updated: 09:55 Thursday, September 02, 2004