York Acorn's 'dream team' lead their Yorkshire troops into the heat of a Roses battle on Sunday.

FREE TO PLAY: York Acorn's Leigh Marshall, pictured completing a tackle against London Skolars, will be free to face Oldham side Shaw Rhinos after being given a sending off sufficient following his dismissal against West Bowling

Joint coaches Alfie Hill and Paul Higgins take charge of the BARLA Yorkshire open age team for the first time in the county championship opener against Lancashire at the Boulevard, Hull (kick-off 2pm).

They have been taking the squad for weekly coaching sessions since their appointment last month and Higgins is confident they have enough talent to kick-off the triangular competition with a win.

"I'm hoping we can give a good performance," said Higgins.

"Despite lacking a few well-known players we can still turn out a very good side, and being at home it's got to be worth a few points.

"If we can turn Lancashire over it will stand us in good stead for going up to Cumbria next month," added Higgins, who is a director of coaching at Acorn along with Hill.

Hull side Ideal Isberg, who performed creditably in their Challenge Cup defeat by Hull KR on Sunday, provide five players including half-back Rob Shaw. He played alongside York Wasps' Darren Callaghan in the BARLA Great Britain Under-23s.

One player who will not be making an appearance is New Earswick All Blacks second rower Lee McTigue. He was included in the final 22-man squad but is now on trial with York Wasps.

That leaves Acorn centre Gareth Lloyd as the only York player in contention.

Lloyd's Acorn team-mates travel to Oldham on Saturday for their postponed BNFL National Cup second round clash against North West Counties side Shaw Rhinos.

The weather intervened to prevent the match going ahead as scheduled last week.

Shaw coach Iestyn Harris will not be at the helm as he is away in Lanzarote with the rest of the Leeds Rhinos player.

Acorn will be without teenage stand-off Danny Liddell but welcome back influential loose forward Nick Warters and teenage scrum-half Andy Lee.

Also available is star forward Leigh Marshall after he was awarded sending off sufficient for his dismissal against West Bowling.

The winners will be at home to Townville in the next round a week on Saturday.

Heworth, who have been exempt from the competition until now, have been handed a tough third round trip to National Conference second division leaders Eastmoor.

But first they have to concentrate on Saturday's NCL division one fixture at Shaw Cross Sharks.

Heworth have little left to play for in the league so they will be looking for a confidence booster to take into their cup campaign.

Last week they were well beaten 30-0 at home to Oulton who leapfrogged Shaw Cross into second place. Those places could be reversed again if Shaw Cross defeat Heworth and Oulton are beaten by East Leeds.

The Villagers, with no injury worries, welcome back Wayne Foster.

New Earswick All Blacks are without a game as their NCL scheduled opponents Waterhead are playing their delayed National Cup tie at Wigan Rosebridge.

However they have re-arranged a league fixture for next Saturday. Their listed opponents, Hull Dockers, will be in National Cup action so instead they will entertain London Skolars, a game oustanding from December.

York Groves, on a good run of form, have an important Yorkshire League division five match at Ryhill Hammers.

The teams are locked on the same points in mid-table and victory would push the Terriers into the leading group.

Player-coach Alan Mitchell is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Rich Needham may be missing with a chest infection.

Martin Hodgson will be fit despite cutting his head last week.

All three York 'A' teams have home advantage in the Yorkshire League.

Heworth, without a game for the last couple of weeks, entertain Dewsbury Moor in division three, while in division four Acorn 'A' look to strengthen their mid-table position against leaders Lock Lane 'A' and New Earswick play host to second placed Shaw Cross Sharks.

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