YORK Acorn ARLC’s new head coach Josh Mortimer is targeting National Conference League division one title glory and a place in the Challenge Cup’s third round during his first season at the helm.

The 27-year-old electrician’s Acorn team will host last season’s NCL third division champions Beverley in the Challenge Cup’s first round on Saturday (kick-off 2pm), knowing a possible match-up with a League One outfit could be the reward if they win their first two matches in the tournament.

Mortimer will not be under-estimating the East Riding visitors, who surged to promotion in their first season after making the step up from the Yorkshire Men’s League, but is clear about his expectations for Acorn, who finished a modest seventh from 12 teams in 2018’s first division table.

The former Selby High School pupil said: “I’ve watched a few of Beverley’s games from last season and spoken to lads who know some of their players and I expect it to be quite tough. They were promoted last season and I have heard they have recruited well, so we can’t take them lightly just because they are in the division below us.

“We’ve had a big team meeting where season targets were set and reaching the third round of the Challenge Cup is one of them. There are 50-odd players here now and I also want us to do what no Acorn team has ever managed and that’s win a National Conference League title.”

Mortimer reckons relegated pair Normanton and Wigan St Patricks – “one of the traditional heavyweights of amateur rugby league” – will be leading contenders once the league campaign starts on the first weekend of March.

But the ex-England Schools’ player is pleased with the additions that have been made to the Thanet Road ranks over the summer.

Prop Tim Stubbs has returned to Acorn after a spell in the Keighley Cougars semi-pro ranks, while Scotland Commonwealth Games international Jack Stewart and Nick Speck are back in the fold too.

Other new recruits include York rugby union captain Chris Fox, who will feature once he has recovered from a kidney operation, Cutsyke’s ex-Castleford academy player Connor Page and Goole’s former junior international union player Chris Peace.

Martin Pederson-Scott and Jensen Okhovat have also been drafted in having previously played for Gateshead and Dewsbury respectively.

Another boost, meanwhile, has been provided by Leigh Paul-Rientoul - Mortimer’s predecessor as head coach - staying on at the club as a player.

Highlighting the depth of quality in his squad, Mortimer pointed out: “I have a side in my mind for Saturday and, after that, we could still pick a second team that would include nine players who have been paid to play the game.”

Mortimer, whose granddad Frank represented Great Britain in the 1950s and father Andrew played for Featherstone in the 1970s and 1980s, played all his junior rugby at Acorn before a spell with York City Knights, where he was selected for a Northern Rail Cup tie only to dislocate his shoulder on the eve of the game.

He has also played senior rugby in the past for Acorn, but intends to stay on the touchline this term, reasoning: “There are nine props that I could justifiably select and others underneath, so I don’t see the need for me to play unless we have a crisis in terms of forward availability.”

Mortimer will be assisted in his new role by veteran Acorn prop Nic Caldwell, who he is delighted to have fulfilling number-two duties.

“He is very similar to me in that he loves his rugby and is very passionate,” Mortimer said. “I don’t struggle in terms of getting respect from the players, but Nic is older and has played at a better level, so he can be a bit of a calming influence.

“We’re working well together and are happy with the environment we’re creating.”