AS one cup door closes, another opens for two of York's amateur rugby league teams.

Heworth and New Earswick All Blacks, both knocked out of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup by professional opposition last week, will bid to bounce back with wins in the League Express National Cup on Saturday.

Both, however, have tough ties. Heworth travel to high-flying National Conference League division one rivals Leigh East, and All Blacks host Pennine League championship chasers Birkenshaw, in games postponed by bad weather.

Heworth, who will have a tougher test at NCL premier division leaders West Hull in round three should they win through, will have to defy underdog status, and their task has been made harder by a plethora of injuries suffered in the 70-0 defeat by Batley.

Dan Briggs sustained concussion and Liam Cochrane suspected broken bones in his hand, while Andy Mercer and Gavin Grant picked up leg knocks. Steve Barnard, who was 50-50 going into the game, suffered a recurrence of his groin injury.

"It would have been tough enough with a full strength team," said club spokesman Ken Sykes.

"Whether a week will be long enough for them to recover remains to be seen."

All Blacks were awesome in holding NFP side Swinton Lions to a 44-12 scoreline last week. However, as they remain second-bottom of NCL division two, they are effectively just two places higher in the rugby league ladder than Birkenshaw, who head the Pennine League.

All Blacks spokesman Charles Rollinson said: "We're expecting them to be tough opposition. The Pennine League is a very tough league and they're top of the premier division. We will have to be at the top of our game."

All Blacks - who will face NCL premier division basement club Dudley Hill if they win - have been boosted by the returns of forward John Leach, following a six-match suspension, and winger Lee Nelson, who has been out with knee trouble for five months.

Hooker Simon Baynes - ruled out of last week's clash after an appeal over his two-match ban, following his sending-off against Thatto Heath in the Challenge Cup second round, failed - completes his suspension.

York Acorn, who booked passage to a National Cup round three clash against Blackpool Scorpions with a 10-8 win at Pudsey last week, are in NCL division two action at third-placed Sheffield Hawks.

Acorn will want to avenge a 25-4 defeat, which came just before they went on the six-match losing run that they ended last week. Man of the match for Acorn that day was Gareth Lloyd while try-scorer was Darren Crake, who have both since signed for York Wasps.

Acorn hope to have centre Steven Irving and full-back Andy Dudman available again.

York Acorn 'A' look to make it four successive Yorkshire League division four wins when they entertain Shaw Cross 'A' (ko 2pm). In division five, All Blacks 'A' visit Upton 'A', while leaders York Groves don't have a game.

Updated: 12:25 Thursday, February 01, 2001