A CUP thrust is still poised to re-ignite Heworth's season despite the club earning a poor reward for a knockout triumph.

Heworth clipped the wings of visiting Edinburgh Eagles in the opening round of the Powergen Challenge Cup praying that they would bag at least another home draw and possibly against inferior opposition.

But the Villagers were brought quickly down to earth with a double reality check. First, they were pitted away and then they discovered that their opponents would be crack Arriva Trains Conference premier division club West Hull in the second round a week on Saturday.

It was hardly the incentive sought by Heworth, who are struggling near the foot of the ATC second division. But coach Brendan Carlyle was dismissing all negative talk as he preferred to translate the good form shown against Edinburgh into Saturday's return to the hunt for vital league points at home to Rochdale Mayfield, kick-off 2.30pm.

Said Carlyle: "Yes, it could have been an easier draw. But we will have nothing to lose at West Hull, so we need to be on our top form against Rochdale Mayfield so we can go into the cup-tie the week after in good heart and maybe cause an upset and get into the third round when all the National League teams come in."

Carlyle, who has taken the first tentative steps in training for himself after he cruelly snapped an Achilles tendon in the opening game of the season against Waterhead back in August, had been heartened by the first Powergen Cup salvo.

"I'm hoping the win over Edinburgh has got us back on track. There are signs we are getting back to some sort of good form and we need to because we have to start picking up points in the league."

The Heworth coach had been particularly impressed with prop and new captain Lee Clarke, plus winger Gavin Grant (pictured left).

Said Carlyle: "Clarke has raised his game that bit more, while Gav's getting some tries and is looking sharp."

The strong form that has taken New Earswick All Blacks into second place in the CMS Yorkshire League senior division will be tested to the maximum on Saturday.

The York side travel to Myton Warriors, who lie just two points adrift of their visitors over whom they have two games in hand. Indeed, Myton have lost one game less than the New Earswick ranks, who will have to be at their best to prise a victory from the outing.

It's the most rapid of re-matches for York Groves, meanwhile, in the Pennine League fifth division.

After losing 20-4 to Bailiff Bridge Panthers last week Groves have the chance for the speediest of revenge missions when they entertain the same outfit on Saturday. In their first encounter Groves never once crossed the whitewash, a blank run they will be eager to extinguish.

Knockout demands are placed on fellow Pennine division five rivals York Acorn 'A and Selby Warriors.

Leaders Acorn entertain Meltham All Blacks, lodged in mid-table in the division above, in the first round of the Pennine Shipley Trophy, a competition that throws up an intriguing clash for Selby Warriors away to Halifax-based division three strugglers Illingworth 'A'.

The Warriors will go into the tie with a warning ringing in their ears from coach Wayne Knight.

Disenchanted with the way they slumped to a 7-18 home defeat against Undercliffe, Knight bemoaned a lack of restraint, which blighted an attempt at a grandstand finale.

Said Knight: "We joined this league because it has a good reputation and we wanted better standards.

"We know that referees will not tolerate abuse and the lads will have to control their emotions."

Updated: 08:56 Thursday, December 04, 2003