New Earswick All Blacks will be gunning for victory to earn a place amongst the promotion challengers when they visit National Conference division two title favourites Eccles.

Eccles are riding high in second spot, just one point behind leaders Ideal Isberg and with a game in hand.

Last week they improved their own promotion claims at the expense of rivals Hull Dockers with an excellent 14-12 away win.

But the All Blacks will be bristling with pride after their bruising, last gasp derby victory over city rivals York Acorn last weekend.

And while occupying the comfort zone of mid-table, last week's 11-10 win, secured by a last minute drop goal from Mick Harrison, kept the White Rose Avenue outfit on the coattails of the promotion chasers after losing their two previous fixtures.

Coach Paddy Bradford will no doubt be hoping last week's fiery encounter - which saw five players sent off including two All Black players - will provide the impetus for a good run of results.

But New Earswick can expect another tough game - the Manchester-based Eccles crushed York Acorn 46-12 earlier this season.

Meanwhile, a smarting York Acorn have a gilt edges opportunity of banishing their derby blues when they play host to bottom club Keighley Albion.

Albion, beaten by New Earswick 15-10 earlier in the season, are propping up the division two table with just one win and two points from 11 games. Last week they were thumped 44-4 at home by Blackbrook - their eighth defeat on the trot - and have a points difference of -182.

Acorn, themselves suffering a troubled campaign with just five points from 12 games and a points difference of -111, will be desperate to heap more woe on Albion.

A victory for the Blue and Golds could prove the catalyst in their battle to climb away from the re-election mire. And with four players facing forthcoming disciplinary meetings, it essential the Thanet Road outfit give themselves some kind of buffer zone.

The Acorn squad could be boosted by the inclusion of second-rower Simon Cornish, recovering from a bad back, and scrum half Dean Kilbride, who missed last week's game with a problem groin.

In the National Conference premier division, Heworth welcome Walney Central to Elmpark Way also aiming to get their season back on track.

Heworth will be looking to bounce back from last week's 30-6 defeat at West Hull, their third defeat on the trot but a match in which the Villagers at least ended their two-match try drought.

A win would take Heworth level on points with Walney, although the hosts currently have a points difference of -105 compared to Walney's -23.

But a defeat, coupled with Heworth's poor points difference record, could allow some of the premier division's strugglers to climb up the table at the Villagers' expense.

Walney, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their 32-12 victory over Cumbrian rivals Askam last week.

"They will be a robust team and so we are expecting a tough game," said Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes. "We have had a dismal run of form of late, not scoring many points while leaking points in defence."

Heworth, depleted by a number of long term injuries, are hopeful of welcoming back Danny Wright to the squad now the forward has recovered from broken ribs.

York Groves face a stiff task when they travel to Yorkshire League division one outfit Swillington in the first round of the Yorkshire White Rose Trophy.

After a good start to their division three programme which has seen them riding high in third place, Groves have let their standards slip in recent weeks.

They could only manage a 12-12 draw with bottom club Walton last weekend - the Wakefield side securing their first point of the season - and were beaten by strugglers Mirfield, who were also pointless, the week before.

Groves will no doubt welcome going into Saturday's cup tie as underdogs against a side who have also enjoyed a promising start to the season.

Swillington currently lie in mid-table of division one after their 21-18 dispatching of Bradley Arms last week.

Groves will be looking towards the experience of player coach Alan Mitchell and the strong running and drives of forwards Dave Murray and Martin Hodgson, together with the tackling prowess of centre Mark Greensmith, to help cause an upset.

l York Acorn 'A' have a golden opportunity to gain immediate revenge for their first string's derby defeat when they play host to New Earswick All Blacks 'A' in the first round of the Yorkshire Alliance Cup competition.

New Earswick All Blacks Under-9s romped to a 10- try 50-0 win at West Leeds. Lee Rollinson had too much pace for the opposition and scored four tries, with Josh Cockerill producing a hat-trick, Dale Hunt two, and Dan Akinson one.

And All Blacks Under-8s piled up 40 points without reply at West Leeds. There were two tries each for Oliver Hurst, Jack Hodgson, Joe Lancaster, with one apiece for Ben Thompson and Dan Perkins.

Heworth Under-8s won their first game of the season with a fine 40-28 victory at Headingley. The teams matched each other score for score until Heworth pulled away in the last quarter.

Heworth's tries came from Aron Robinson (3), Luke Rowley (3), Sam Atkinson (2), Ben Simpson, and Jack Sullivan.

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