BACK walking tall are Heworth after they broke their Arriva Trains Conference division two duck inspired by Will Neary.

The 6ft. 6in. tall prop Neary was at the heart of the villagers' 28-18 triumph over Millom. Not only did it accord the first points of the season to Heworth, the win also put daylight between themselves and their vanquished rivals who now prop up the table.

Club spokesman Ken Sykes ventured that the performance at Elmpark Way was not as impressive as that of the week before against Huddersfield, but the worth of the win over Millom could prove key to getting the campaign back on track.

And that boost to morale could be reinforced away at another toiling outfit Cottingham Tigers on Saturday when Neary will again be out to assert his burgeoning authority. Sykes maintained that the player is now beginning to show the form that his imposing stature suggests he is capable of.

Said Sykes: "We have got our first two points on the board and that should now kick us off.

"It will give us more confidence and the game at Cottingham is one which we should be thinking of winning anyway.

"Will Neary has been having a good season so far.

"He is coming into his own now after being with the club for the last three or four years. When he runs through he fairly skittles opponents over. He has not done that enough, but he is starting to do that more and more as he gets confidence in himself."

Heworth are likely to show just one change at Cottingham from the Millom win with centre Nikki Wilson, who missed the first win of the season with 'flu', now fit enough to return.

Elsewhere in the Arriva second division, city rivals York Acorn play host to Waterhead, eager to shrug aside last week's 38-14 defeat to leaders Castleford Panthers.

Until the outbreak of some argy-bargy Acorn had looked the better team against the Panthers, but down a man, they finally perished to late pressure from the table-toppers.

However, Acorn will be hopeful of getting the better of Waterhead, whose six outings so far have lurched in fortunes - three wins matched by three defeats. Victory for the Thanet Road hosts would nudge them on to the same points tally and, more importantly, into a healthier mid-table slot.

New Earswick All Blacks will be looking to start as they finish when they travel to take on Dewsbury Moor in the CMS Yorkshire League Senior Division.

The All Blacks showed tremendous character last week as they battled back from a 24-2 deficit against unbeaten leaders Hunslet Old Boys to lose just 42-36.

New Earswick will be anxious to avoid a sluggish start against Dewsbury Moor, who have just one win from their opening five games and lie just one place off the bottom.

The All Blacks are in mid-table, but in a nip and tuck division defeat would see Dewsbury Moor move level with the York side on points.

A third victory of the season, however, would establish New Earswick firmly in the top half of the table.

Prop Jamie Daniel will miss the trip with a leg injury, while second rowers Pete Johnson and Jamie Rhodes are both unavailable.

Softening the blow, John Leach has returned from holiday and should help to fill one of the gaps in the second row.

Half-backs Mick Harrison and Mark Green are also added to the All Blacks squad.

Confidence is high among York Groves, now kitted out in a smart strip provided by former player Alistair Cole.

They maintained their promising start to the Pennine League division five with a 22-6 pasting of Victoria Rangers 'A' and will seek to extend that good form when they play host to Keighley Town 'A' on Saturday.

In the same division, as yet undefeated Selby Warriors are also on the same points mark - four - as Groves and have a home fixture too against the same Victoria Rangers 'A' outfit lashed by the York side.

Victory should be within reach of table-topping Acorn 'A'. They make the trip to mid-placed West Bowling 'B' protecting a 100 per cent record from their three games so far.

Despite struggling for numbers, Heworth 'A' will be hoping to make home advantage count when they entertain Normanton Knights in Yorkshire League division five on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.

Updated: 08:59 Thursday, October 09, 2003