DEPARTING ace Johnny Waldron reckons York Acorn ARLC have the ability in the camp to soar up National Conference division one.

The Blue and Golds fell to the foot of the table last month but three wins on the bounce have lifted them away from danger, with coach Alfie Hill eyeing a top-five place by Christmas.

Prolific try-scorer Waldron - who has not played this season due to a shoulder problem, and has now left Thanet Road after signing semi-professional forms with York City Knights - believes they should be looking upwards.

"They started with six away games on the trot and lost five of them," said Waldron, as Acorn could not stage home games in that period as their pitch was re-seeded.

"But through the season you can afford to lose five away games. They've now got the next five games at home and if they can win four of them, they will be right back up there.

"They've certainly got the players to do it. I will be going to watch and support all my mates, and with a bit of luck they'll be near the top of the table by Christmas."

Hill has backed that claim, but says his side must find consistency, starting with Saturday's visit of Wigan St Jude's.

"In the early part of the season we were building leads but giving them away in the second half," he explained. "Now it seems we're struggling in the first half but getting it right in the second.

"If we get the full 80 minutes right, I think we could be a force."

They will have to contend with the loss of ace scrum-half Andy Gargan, who is on Yorkshire duty for their Amateur County Championship series decider against Cumbria on Sunday, as well as packman Martin McTigue.

Hill, who is also coach of the Yorkshire side, might switch loose-forward Tom Hill to half-back and run with an extra forward for what he reckons will be a fascinating encounter. That extra forward could be the returning Jimmy Morrow, who was not picked for Yorkshire this time as he was unavailable for their training sessions as well as recent Acorn matches.

Hill added: "St Jude's are quite pacy in the backs and pretty strong in the forwards. They're a bit like us in that they've not got a level of consistency yet, which is why they're in mid-table."

Heworth take a break in division two as their scheduled opponents, Askam, have three players in the Cumbria squad that face Yorkshire, so have called the game off.

The Villagers could then have played second-placed Bradford Dudley Hill in a rearranged fixture but are instead taking a week off, which has not come at a bad time as they have a few bumps and bruises to overcome.

Heworth A' are in action, at home to Castleford Lock Lane A' in Yorkshire League division three.

l Knight Cain's injury nightmare goes on - Page 42