Heworth boss Harold Box is determined to lead the Villagers straight back into National Conference League division one following relegation last year.

A big NCL force in the late 1980s and early '90s, Heworth have been on the slide in recent years culminating in their drop into the bottom tier last season.

But Box is confident he has a squad good enough - and now big enough - to not only arrest the slide but also bounce back up, starting with a two-point haul at Normanton Knights on Saturday (ko 2.30pm)

"The players are used to playing in division one so are confident of doing well in division two," he told the Evening Press.

"We've kept the squad from last year and added to it. Last year we struggled for numbers a little bit with a small squad but this year it's a bit better.

"The players, like me, felt we let people down last year and we want to bounce straight back up."

Mick Harrison, Dave Carling and Nigel Wilson have signed from city rivals York Acorn, while Jamie Rhodes has also joined and England Student internationals Dan Briggs and Anthony Howcroft are back at Elm Park Way after spells with Featherstone Rovers Alliance and Hunslet Hawks, respectively.

The Villagers continued their preparations with a 76-6 hammering of Hull-based Reckitts in a friendly last week following a 36-14 defeat to premier division outfit Castleford Lock Lane.

"There were some good things to come out of the defeat to Lock Lane and some bad things that we have learnt from, and we then went on to hammer Reckitts," said Box.

"It looks like we are getting a pattern together, there is a good team spirit and the lads are confident we can do well this year."

Yorkshire League outfit Selby Warriors play a pre-season friendly at Castleford team Redhill on Saturday (ko 2pm). Any player who wants a run-out is likely to get a spell on the field. Players meet at the New Inn at Barlby at noon.

- The Yorkshire League season, which this term will also feature former NCL outfit New Earswick All Blacks as well as York Groves and Selby, is scheduled to kick off next weekend.

Updated: 11:02 Thursday, August 23, 2001