YORK Groves kick off their 2003-04 campaign on Saturday with a derby day trip to Wetherby Bulldogs.

Both teams were relegated from Pennine League division four last season and will be keen to begin their division five campaigns with a bang.

The Terriers, who have been in training over the summer break and will have several new signings on show, also have a new ground this season, having moved to a new base at Archbishop Holgate's School on Hull Road. This, they say, will help their plans to develop a junior set-up.

Club secretary Ian Colley said: "This move (to Archbishops) is to benefit the club in several ways. The school is more accessible to visiting sides and nearer the club's base in the Groves.

"The club also intend to develop a junior squad with coaching at Archbishops and several other schools."

Coach Simon Moat is to have a pre-match get-together at Oaklands, their old ground, on Saturday. Players are asked to contact him for further details.

Selby Warriors will also play in the Pennine League division five this season having switched from the Yorkshire League, but they must wait until next week for their first game of the campaign, at home to Thornton.

Heworth have a tough task ahead if they are to kick-start their Arriva Trains Conference division two season with a victory.

The Villagers, with no points from the opening two games, travel to Rochdale Mayfield, who have won both their matches so far. Mayfield were also the team that ended Heworth's eight-game winning run at the start of last season, and Brendan Carlyle's men will want revenge.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "Barring that result we've actually got a good record against them and generally tend to play well against them. But this is a new season and one we haven't started particularly well, while, although they were struggling at the end of last season, they've started off pretty well this year."

Heworth still have injury worries, and joining the unavailable list is Wayne Foster, who was man of the match last week. In better news Sam Clark returns.

"We're not at strength at the moment and we can only play the players we've got, but we need to start winning points so we don't find ourselves adrift, and I think this is an ideal opportunity to do that," added Sykes.

York Acorn have no game.

New Earswick All Blacks are aiming to build on their winning start to the Yorkshire League senior division campaign when they entertain Bilton Sullys.

This will be the visitors' first fixture of the season and All Blacks, who began their season in fine style with a last-minute win at Good Companions, will hope to catch them cold.

All games start at 2.30pm.

Heworth ARLC will be holding an ex-players' reunion at their Elm Park Way clubhouse on Friday, September 19, starting at 8pm. All past and current players are invited.

Updated: 08:43 Thursday, September 04, 2003