Heworth will make a small slice of Challenge Cup club history on Sunday when they entertain Edinburgh Eagles in the first round (ko 2.30pm).

It will be the first time the Villagers have met a Scottish club and the first time they have played a team based in summer Conference rugby.

It will also be the first time the Villagers have played on a Sunday since January 2002, which was also in the Challenge Cup - though in much different circumstances as that game was against professional opposition in Batley Bulldogs.

Heworth will again be aiming for that magical third round mark when National League clubs enter the competition.

"Edinburgh are an unknown quantity but we should do pretty well and hopefully get through," said coach Brendan Carlyle. "We could do with a good Cup run to boost our season."

Paradoxically, it will not be the first time Heworth have entertained the Eagles, as the Scottish Summer Conference champions competed in both the 2002 and 2003 York 9s tournaments staged at Elm Park Way and they will be returning again next year.

The Eagles also have some Challenge Cup experience. They were formed in 1998 and quickly established themselves as the top team in Scotland. In 1999 they won the Scottish Summer Conference to qualify for their - and Scotland's - first foray into the Challenge Cup the following season.

They lost narrowly to former BARLA Conference champions Woolston and last year were there again, this time losing to fellow BARLA giants Leigh East.

Heworth are awaiting a fitness test on Liam Cochrane while Nikki Wilson might also return. In the squad are Sam and Lee Clarke, whose father, Peter, died a fortnight ago - Heworth's league game at Widnes St Maries last week being postponed as a mark of respect.

The fact the game is being staged on a Sunday - due to Edinburgh having several players with rugby union commitments on Saturdays - should not affect the Villagers' squad.

The Challenge Cup itself is coming to Heworth, literally, tonight as part of the trophy's mini-tour of amateur clubs ahead of this weekend's first round. It will be at Elm Park Way from about 5.30pm.

The Rugby Football League marketing director Chris Green said: "Taking the Powergen Challenge Cup on tour gives people involved in the grassroots of the game a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this 108-year-old trophy at close quarters."

York Acorn have no game having lost in the preliminary round of the Cup to Castleford Lock Lane two weeks ago.

New Earswick All Blacks are confident of carrying on their improvement in form as they entertain Bentley Good Companions in Yorkshire League senior division.

The visitors, rooted to the foot of the table, were hammered 54-4 last week by Batley Boys, who lost to the All Blacks a fortnight ago.

The York side will be without Alan Pallister, who will now be unavailable for several weeks because of other commitments, but Pete Johnson and Mark Tipping return to the squad.

All Blacks spokesman Simon Malarkey said: "Good Companions are not doing all that well and we expect our good run to continue."

York Groves will hope to stay in touch with the leaders in Pennine League division five as they visit Bailiff Bridge.

Only one point and two places separate the sides, but the Terriers, beaten only twice in two league matches, have two games in hand.

Selby Warriors, who could join York Acorn 'A' at the summit if they win all their games in hand, face a difficult home game against Undercliffe.

The visitors gave Acorn a good test last week and are six points clear of Selby.

However, they have played six games more and the Warriors will be determined to keep in their sights their York rivals, who, having scored 474 points already from just ten games, will expect another major haul away to bottom club Keighley Town 'A' should they not get hit hard by call-ups to the first team.

Updated: 10:04 Thursday, November 27, 2003