Heworth take a ring of steel run of eight games without defeat to the Circle home of National Conference League premier division foes West Hull.

The Villagers have not been bettered in the league since the trip to second-placed Egremont Rangers on November 8 and their only defeat in the last three months came in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup at Oldham.

With no injuries reported from their 34-24 victory over Saddleworth Rangers at Elmpark Way last weekend, coaches Stewart Horton and Keith Loft are expected to select from the same group of players.

And the Villagers will travel to the Circle on Saturday (2.30pm) without any fears after achieving the double over the Humbersiders last season.

West Hull have Craig Bellis back from injury and international Colin Carter back from a six match suspension.

The club recently recruited a new half-back partnership in Ian Stockdale, from Sheffield Eagles, and former Hull Sharks player Wayne Harris.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be relying on their own duo of stand-off Mark Green and scrum-half Chris Hammerton to help extend their impressive stretch of form.

The hosts are four places above Heworth in the premier division, tucked into the championship chasing pack with games in hand on all their rivals.

York Acorn tackle a testing trip to Halifax to take on promotion chasing Siddal in the NCL second division on Saturday (2.30pm).

Yorkshire Electricity County Cup finalists Siddal have a realistic chance of making the runners-up spot in their first season in the Conference, while Acorn still harbour hopes of a top four finish.

The Blue and Golds will again be missing loose forward Paddy Langan but hope to welcome back forward Alan Hebblethwaite and winger Gary Isles.

Forward trio Simon Cornish (ribs and ankle), Leigh Marshall (pelvis and ribs) and Mark Hebblethwaite (ribs) all face late fitness tests.

Utility back Gary Hill is also doubtful after missing last week's BNFL National Cup win over Featherstone Miners Welfare with badly bruised shins.

New Earswick All Blacks have once again fallen foul of the National Conference League fixture planners.

The second division side have played just 13 league games, compared to the 18 that some others have played, and they are again without a game on Saturday.

The All Blacks' run to the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Electricity County Cup has hampered their league programme and they have two home games and seven away matches remaining.

New Earswick have yet to visit league leaders Featherstone Lions and basement side London Student Old Boys, and they have Ovenden and Siddal to play at home and away.

Yorkshire League division two side West Bank will be aiming to get back on track at Methley Monarchs on Saturday, following last week's 52-4 defeat at Good Companions.

Division five side Clifton Moor have a free weekend following their heavy BNFL National Cup second round defeat by NCL second division side Hull Dockers.

Moor, who travelled to their higher grade opponents with just 13 players, put up a brave showing on their way to a 78-4 loss, with John Thompson kicking two goals to put his side on the scoresheet.

Club secretary Ian Colley said the team have just two fixtures remaining in the 1997/8 season and the club are already setting the foundations for a more prosperous future.

Moor, who play at Burdyke at Clifton, are receiving strong support from the Castle Howard Ox pub and are currently training at York Boys' Club in the Groves.

Heworth 'A' are again without a fixture in Yorkshire League Alliance division one but on-song Nathan Witty travels to Hunslet Warriors with the Under-18s seeking his third consecutive hat-trick of tries.

Alliance division two sides York Acorn 'A' and New Earswick All Blacks 'A' are also without scheduled fixtures.

*Outstanding displays by Liam Watling and Chris Varley could not prevent York Acorn Under-11s suffering a 12-0 defeat against Dewsbury Moor. Two lapses of concentration in the second half proved costly for the Blue and Golds.

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