High-five Heworth

Three consecutive wins have confirmed a dream start for the Villagers in their new life in National Conference division two.

Both they and city rivals York Acorn - leaders on points difference - boast the only maximum records in the table.

But Heworth believe they have the best chance of extending their sequence to a stirring five straight wins over the next nine days.

This Saturday they entertain an out of sports Castleford Panthers' line-up and then a week later it's back to their Elm Park Way base for a clash against anchor outfit Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks. Coincidentally Panthers' most recent duel was a slender 14-12 win over the lowly Hawks.

Club mainstay Ken Sykes said: "You can't bank on anything in this game, but we do have a great opportunity to make it five wins on the run. That would be quite a contrast to how we have started the last few seasons."

Sykes added that a new-found confidence was clearly evident in the Heworth ranks, especially in the wake of last week's fine success away to Cumbrian club Millom. "They will turn a few teams over at their place for sure," said Sykes. "So that result has given us a great boost."

Apart from the increased morale Sykes also attributed the upswing in form to the dynamic half-back partnership of Mick Harrison and Brendan Carlyle, and the force of forward Jason Gatus. "He had such a big game for us at Millom," enthused Sykes.

Heworth are free of injury for the Panthers' clash and will be boosted by the return of hooker Liam Cochrane.

New Earswick All Blacks turn their attention from a poor start to the Yorkshire League senior division to a preliminary round salvo in the Yorkshire Cup away to Selby Warriors.

Forward Rich Harrison is expected to stiffen the visiting ranks, who will run fitness checks on Jamie Daniel, Carl Pallister and Carl Barrow.

York Groves have no game this weekend as they have been given a bye into the first round of the Yorkshire Cup.

Updated: 12:00 Thursday, September 13, 2001