YORK Acorn ARLC are hoping they can end their awful relegation campaign on a high note when they go to Bradford Dudley Hill on Saturday.

The penultimate game of the Blue and Golds’ season of turmoil saw them lose 40-8 at mid-table Skirlaugh in midweek, keeping them bottom of the National Conference premier division.

Dudley Hill are guaranteed to finish third-bottom following their loss on Tuesday night to West Hull, and Acorn hope they can get the points needed to at least claw their way off the foot of the table.

The York side had actually opened the scoring at Skirlaugh in only the second minute when Tim Elliott created the gap for Stephen Mackley to go over in the corner.

But the hosts hit back when second-row Gary Smith scored the first of his hat-trick of tries after good work down the short side. Loose-forward Ricky Hough added the first of his four conversions.

Then, after a break up the middle, centre Kirk Abel was on hand to go over, and Smith got his second after some excellent passing for a 16-4 half-time lead.

Skirlaugh struck immediately after the break when an astute kick saw Smith re-gather for his treble, and Abel got his second try when crashing over in the corner.

The lead was stretched when winger Brendan Lewis crossed, and stand-off Matty Danville, the former York City Knights three-quarter, capped a man-of-the-match performance with a good individual try ten minutes from time.

Acorn got on the scoresheet two minutes later when a good kick by Jonny Liddell saw Adam Sellers touch down. But the home side rounded off the scoring in the dying seconds through Mike Johnson’s try.

Adam Endersby was Acorn’s man of the match, well supported by Daryl North and Nick Speck.

Heworth also get to end their own season of woe in division two when they host promotion-chasing Egremont Rangers, three weeks after their penultimate match.

Heworth, with only three wins in 21 games, have long been guaranteed bottom-spot in the league.

It will be Chris Smith’s last league game as player-coach, the former St Helens and York City Knights ace, pictured, having previously confirmed he would not be at the club next term.

His last for the club will be in the upcoming York & District Cup.

Heworth, who are likely to field a mixture of first and second-team players in that competition, take on Selby Warriors in the semi-finals at Featherstone Rovers’ ground on Wednesday (7.30pm), on the same night York Acorn meet New Earswick.

It has been confirmed, meanwhile, that Heworth will stay in the National Conference next year when the league switches to a summer season. This is on the assumption they pass a re-election process having finished in the bottom two, though that is likely to be a formality given the circumstances.

The Villagers had voted against the move from the winter season but have now accepted an invite from league chiefs to join the majority of clubs – including York Acorn – in making the switch.

There will be a short season in the autumn and winter before the full, new season next summer.

York Acorn ‘A’ could seal the Yorkshire League division two title with a win at home to Nevison Leap on Saturday, their penultimate match of the season. Only Batley Boys can catch them.

Heworth ‘A’ have finished their season in division three.