Cup fever grips York again this week with the city's three premier amateur rugby league clubs all involved in knockout action.

New Earswick All Blacks and Heworth hope it will be third time lucky in their League Express National Cup second round ties which have twice been postponed due to the weather.

York Acorn successfully negotiated their second round clash with Pudsey a fortnight ago so this week take on Blackpool Scorpions in the third round.

Second rower Rich Warren and three-quarter Stephen Irving are both back in contention after being unavailable for last week's National League defeat at Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks.

Acorn were today awaiting the outcome of forward Nicky Caldwell's disciplinary hearing.

His case was being heard by the committee last night after he was sent off for abusing a touch judge in the NCL defeat at Cottingham Tigers last month.

Heworth appear to have the toughest path to the fourth round.

If they overcome National Conference League first division rivals Leigh East on Saturday, they must travel to premier division champions and current leaders West Hull in the third round.

First up is a trip across the Pennines to Leigh East, who are second in division one and contenders for the title.

The match will not bring happy memories for either side - their last meeting in October had to be abandoned when fighting broke out in the second half.

Last week's postponement has given Heworth's injured players an extra week to recover.

Dan Briggs, Liam Cochrane, Andy Mercer, Gavin Grant and Steve Barnard were all doubtful last week but could now play while Simon Harrison should have recovered from a bout of flu.

All Blacks must complete a Bradford double if they are to progress to round four.

They entertain Pennine League table-toppers Birkenshaw in the second round on Saturday, with NCL premier division side Dudley Hill awaiting the winners.

Prop John Leach returns from injury for New Earswick but Simon Baynes is still suspended.

York Groves face a tough task to hang onto their leadership of Yorkshire League division five on Saturday.

They travel to Hunslet OB, who will leapfrog Groves at the top if they triumph.

While Groves have six wins and a draw from their 11 games, Hunslet started their season late so have played just six games - and won them all.

Groves coaches Alan Mitchell and Simon Moat have several injury problems. Prop Andy Starkey is out with an Achilles problem and Keith Holmes has a knee injury.

Selby Warriors entertain Oulton 'A' in the Yorkshire League second division, York Acorn 'A' are at Sherburn in division four, Scarborough Sharks are at home to Upton in division five and New Earswick 'A' travel to Stanningley Crown in the same division.

Updated: 13:07 Thursday, February 08, 2001