New Earswick All Blacks will finally sample their first rugby league fixture of pre-season on Thursday when they entertain local rivals York Acorn at White Rose Avenue.

After having an exhibition match against the West Indies cancelled and a replacement fixture with Hull Dockers not forthcoming, this will be their first encounter since winning promotion to Pennine League division one.

It will be quite a new-look side with prop Jo Jo Hnesh travelling overseas, Jamie Rhodes unavailable through work, Dave Carling retiring and various players unavailable due to holidays.

The side will be bolstered, though, by York Tigers forward Wes Rogers joining the club and former junior Paul Raybould returning after a lengthy injury. Stand-off Adrian Robinson is also back training after knee surgery.

This will be Acorn's second pre-season game ahead of their first campaign in National Conference division two, having beaten premier division side Hull Dockers last week. Kick-off Thursday (25th) at 7pm.

Updated: 10:41 Wednesday, August 24, 2005