Heworth haven't thrown the towel in yet.

The Villagers have only a negligible chance of escaping the Arriva Trains Conference re-election zone - but spokesman Ken Sykes says it can be done.

The team travel to bottom-club Millom on Saturday needing to win four of their five remaining games - they've only won three all season - and hope either arch-rivals York Acorn or Cottingham Tigers lose all their matches.

Sykes said: "It will be extremely difficult to get out of the bottom two, particularly with all the injuries, but we have some winnable games coming up."

Those games include Saturday's trip, the home derby against Acorn and the match against Widnes St Maries, who are on a losing slump.

Added Sykes: "If we could win those then we could close the gap and if we could get one more victory at either Eastmoor, which would be very difficult, or Castleford Panthers, which, granted, is extremely unlikely, we would escape."

Pride will also be at stake this weekend as the Cumbrians have won only once this year and Heworth don't want to be the second fall-guys.

"We have quite a good recent record up there but the games are usually close and this one will be very tough, especially with our injury situation," said Sykes. "They will fancy their chances."

The injury list now also includes Sam Clarke, who tore a calf muscle, Ian Jones, who broke a wrist, and Gary Watkinson, who broke a thumb. But Sykes added: "We're not throwing the towel in."

York Acorn coach Dave Kay is taking nothing for granted in the re-election scrap and is determined to claim the points to secure the Blue and Golds' safety.

Kay has admitted the club have one eye on the second team's potential title triumph but says the priority remains the first team and is likely to delve into the reserves for Saturday's rearranged trip to Huddersfield Sharks. Steven Irving and Alan Willitts are unavailable, while Craig Fox is doubtful.

"The first team will always take priority," he said. "We will put as good a team out as possible - points for and against could come into it - so we don't want to field a weakened team.

"That said, we've got to keep one eye on what the second team are trying to achieve."

He added: "Last week's performance (in a shock National Cup defeat to Illingworth) was a big let-down and we're looking for a big improvement."

Acorn 'A' entertain third-placed Thornton knowing a win would go a long way to securing their title.

Thornton are only two points behind and have a game in hand. However, Acorn's points difference is vastly superior so a victory would mean only shock defeats in their last two games would deny them the title.

A win for Thornton, however, would put the pressure on, so Acorn need to improve on last week's show when they lost to second-placed Undercliffe, who moved level on points at the top - though they have completed their fixtures.

Mid-table York Groves, meanwhile, visit lowly West Bowling 'B'.

Selby Warriors will be sweating on the fitness of player-coach Kev Fellows and top-scorer Wayne Fennell ahead of their eagerly awaited Pennine League Shipley Trophy quarter-final at Elland 'A'.

The game will see the division five Warriors take on opposition from division three for the fourth time in four rounds. But having seen off Rotherham, Illingworth 'A' and in-form Morley, the Warriors will be confident.

However, preparations took a knock when Fellows and Fennell were injured in a charity game. Their fitness could prove crucial.

New Earswick All Blacks are eyeing a place in the CMS Yorkshire League senior division play-offs and a win at Ossett Trinity in their last game of the campaign could fulfil their hopes if other results go their way.

A defeat could leave Batley Boys in the driving seat for fourth place, but they face third-placed Hunslet Old Boys this week.

All Blacks spokesman Simon Malarkey said: "If we win and Batley slip up in one of their last two games then we get fourth place. We're looking for Hunslet to do us a favour."

All Blacks will give a late fitness test to Alan Pallister, while Pete Johnson could return, but otherwise they are likely to stick with the squad that saw off Dewsbury Moor last Saturday.

Heworth 'A's rejuvenation took a backward step last week when work commitments meant they failed to field a team for the YL division three trip to East Leeds 'A', but they will be hoping for a better turn-out on Saturday away to Chequerfield.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, March 11, 2004