YORK will definitely have one amateur club through to the third round stage of rugby league's Challenge Cup after York Acorn and Heworth were amazingly drawn to face each other in round two, writes Peter Martini.

Out of the 15 ties drawn, Acorn came out of the hat 25th and Heworth 26th to set up the grudge match at Thanet Road.

The third round sees Northern Ford Premiership clubs enter the competition, and it is a stage Acorn - who needed a late goal to beat Dewsbury Moor 34-32 in round one - have never reached before.

Acorn spokesman Paul Lumby said: "You could not have written it. You can only ask for a home draw and to get a team in your own division is great, but for it to be your local rivals is incredible.

"The incentive is a pro club in the next round, plus local pride, and for us it is to get to round three for the first time."

In October, the first-ever National Conference League encounter between the sides, following Heworth's drop into division two, saw Acorn victorious by 29-15 in front of a 500-plus crowd.

The tie - set for a week tomorrow - gives Heworth an early chance of revenge.

Spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It's a great draw. It's of great local interest and there will be a good crowd. At least one of us will be in the third round."

Heworth pulled off one of the biggest Cup shocks in years when winning 19-8 at premier division Ideal Isberg in round one.

Updated: 12:41 Friday, December 07, 2001