YORK Acorn go into Saturday's home clash with Cottingham Tigers desperate to halt a losing run before it takes a stranglehold on their season.

The Blue and Golds have had three disappointing defeats since shocking high-flying Rochdale Mayfield, the latest of which was a Challenge Cup hammering at Castleford Lock Lane.

They have dropped to fourth bottom in the Arriva Trains Conference division two table but a victory on Saturday (ko 2pm) would see them rise two places and leapfrog their visitors.

Player-coach Dave Kay said: "The wheels have come off a bit since the Mayfield game. We went through a similar period last year and went a lot more games on a losing run, but it was against Cottingham that we ended our bad run and started a good run, so we're hoping for the same thing again."

Kay will have club captain Lee Frank, Fran Starkey, Craig Fox and Paul Payne available again this weekend after injury and unavailability, while Johnny Waldron will also be back after sitting out last week's game to play for Yorkshire Amateurs in their game against a touring Manly Seahawks side at Dewsbury's Ram Stadium. Waldron scored a try for the White Rose county in their 38-14 defeat.

Kay added of Acorn's 56-0 loss last week: "We weren't at our best by any means and there's a great deal of improvement in us."

Yorkshire League senior division side New Earswick All Blacks are not in action.

York Groves also have no game, and this gives Selby Warriors the chance to draw level with their near neighbours in the Pennine League division five table.

The Warriors, who have games in hand on those around them, entertain lowly West Bowling 'B', who last week shipped in 86 points at Bank Top Harriers, who had previously won only two of ten games.

Leaders York Acorn 'A', who lost their winning league record last week against second-placed Thornton, face another difficult task at third-placed Undercliffe.

Updated: 11:26 Thursday, November 20, 2003