Basement battles are the order of the day for York's struggling National Conference League teams as the season reaches a thrilling climax.

Heworth, one place off the foot of the first division, take on rock bottom club Millom at Elmpark Way.

Another basement side, London Skolars, can send New Earswick All Blacks back into the second division re-election zone when they visit White Rose Avenue.

Harold Box's Heworth have not won a league game since way back on November 11 when they beat Askam 22-16. Their poor run of results has seen them dragged into what now appears to be a four-horse fight against relegation at the foot of the division.

However, one of only four victories this season came in a hard-fought 7-4 success at Millom, who are now three points behind Heworth in the table.

A repeat of that result would see the Villagers move out of the bottom two as Askam, the team immediately above them, are without a game. Askam have played three games more than Heworth so the Villagers' future is very much in their own hands.

Spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It's a massive game for the club. I don't think there's any danger of our lads being complacent.

"If we win we can get out the bottom two but if they beat us where do we go from there?"

Heworth, who pick from a full strength squad, have bid farewell to Kiwi half-back Tony Logan who played just one game before returning home for family reasons.

It couldn't be tighter at the lower end of the second division where just three points separate the bottom four clubs.

Although New Earswick are two places and two points clear of London, their points difference is only 21 better. The Skolars will go above them if their margin of victory is anything more than that.

A boost for New Earswick should be the return of second rower Lee McTigue who missed last week's narrow 20-14 defeat at Crosfields through work commitments.

Richard Harrison is unavailable, centre Paul Meillan is out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder and captain Jez Petch is still sidelined with a broken thumb.

There will be late fitness tests for Carl Pallister and player-coach Mick McTigue who were both injured against Crosfields.

Crosfields face York opposition again this week when they travel to Thanet Road for Acorn's penultimate home game of the season.

The Blue and Golds have just about edged to safety but will want a good result to extinguish any lingering worries.

The sides have not yet met this season and Acorn will hope they can show the same kind of form that very nearly brought them a surprise away win at Thatto Heath last week.

Acorn fielded several of their promising up and coming youngsters and they all gave a good account of themselves, most notably pacey scrum-half Johnny Waldron who is growing in stature with every game.

Last week Acorn were missing several regulars who may come into contention for this week's match, the most important being captain and loose forward Lee Frank out with a back problem.

Two other absentees were winger Tim Wilcock and experienced forward Gary Taylor who are both pushing for a returning place.

New Earswick 'A' stand between York Groves and a place in the Yorkshire League division five play-offs.

Groves have just two games remaining, both against the All Blacks, and need to win them both to stay in the top four.

The Terriers hold the upper hand so far this season having beaten the All Blacks twice in local cup ties. That will fill them with confidence going into Saturday's clash at Burdyke when they will be without injured prop Andy Starkey and skipper Paul Scott, who has a knee ligament problem.

Acorn 'A' play hosts to Dewsbury Moor 'A' in Yorkshire League division four. Acorn are also aiming for a top four finish and victory over second-placed Moor would strengthen their claims.

Updated: 12:24 Thursday, April 05, 2001