DERBY day is coming early for York amateur rugby league clubs Acorn and New Earswick All Blacks next season.

The teams will meet at Acorn's Thanet Road ground on Saturday, September 2 - the second week of the new National Conference second division campaign.

There will be plenty at stake as both sides are confident of improving on last season's lowly league positions, in particular Acorn whose talented youngsters have come of age in the last few months.

The return fixture at White Rose Avenue will be on Sunday, November 26.

New Earswick open their campaign at home to Normanton Knights on Saturday, August 26, while Acorn travel to Hull Dockers.

Harold Box's first game in charge of first division side Heworth will be away at Wigan St Judes on the same date.

Cottingham Tigers start life in the National Conference with a trip to London Skolars who have been re-elected despite finishing bottom of the second division.

The Tigers, whose original application to the NCL failed, were accepted following the withdrawal of Barrow Island who have opted to join the North West Counties League.

The other newcomers, Thatto Heath, are at home to Dewsbury Moor in their opening match.

In the premier division, champions West Hull kick-off the defence of their title with a trip to newly promoted Oulton Raiders.

The premier division will be graced with the presence of one of rugby league's all-time greats next season.

Former Great Britain, Wigan, Widnes, Leeds and Salford scrum-half Andy Gregory has been appointed head coach of Wigan St Patricks, where he started his career.

Heworth begin pre-season training tonight at Elm Park Way (7pm). All players past, present and future are urged to attend.

Heworth

August: Sat 26 Wigan St Judes (A).

September: Sat 2 Shaw Cross Sharks (H), Sat 9 Rochdale Mayfield (A), Sat 16 Eastmoor Dragons (H), Sat 23 Millom (A), Sat 30 Siddal (H).

October: Sat 7 Eccles (A), Sat 14 East Leeds (A), Sat 21 Leigh East (H), Sun 29 West Bowling (A).

November: Sat 4 Waterhead (H), Sat 11 Askam (A), Sat 18 Featherstone Lions (H), Sun 26 Shaw Cross Sharks (A).

December: Sat 2 Rochdale Mayfield (H), Sat 9 Eastmoor Dragons (A), Sat 16 Silk Cut Challenge Cup (2nd round), Sat 23 Millom (H).

2001

January: Sat Siddal (A), Sat 13 Eccles (H), Sat 20 East Leeds (H), Sat 17 BARLA National Cup (2nd round).

February: Sat 3 Leigh East (A), Sat 10 West Bowling (H), Sat 17 Waterhead (A), Sat 24 Askam (H).

March: Sat 3: Featherstone Lions (A), Sat 10 Wigan St Judes (H).

York Acorn

August: Sat 26 Hull Dockers (A).

September: Sat 2 New Earswick (H), Sat 9 Blackbrook (H), Sat 16 Thatto Heath (A), Sat 23 Castleford Panthers (H), Sat 30 Keighley Albion (A).

October: Sat 7 Cottingham Tigers (H), Sat 14 London Skolars (A), Sat 21 Sheffield Hills Hawks (H), Sun 29 Milford Marlins (A),

November: Sat 4 Dewsbury Moor (H), Sat 11 Crosfield (A), Sat 18 Normanton Knights (H), Sat 26 New Earswick AB (A).

December: Sat 9 Thatto Health (H), Sat 16 Silk Cup Challenge Cup (2nd round), Sat 23 Castleford Panthers (A).

2001

January: Sat 6 Keighley Albion (H), Sat 13 Cottingham Tigers (A), Sat 20 London Skolars (H), Sat 27 BARLA Cup (2nd round).

February: Sat 3 Sheffield Hills Hawks (A). Sat 10 Milford Marlins (H), Sat 17 Dewsbury Moor (A), Sat 24 Crosfields (H).

March: Sat 3 Normanton Knights (A), Sat 10 Hull Dockers (H).

New Earswick AB

August: Sat 26 Normanton Knights (H).

September: Sat 2 York Acorn (A), Sat 9 Thatto Health (A), Sat 16 Keighley Albion (H), Sat 23 London Skolars (A), Sat 30 Milford Marlins (H).

October: Sat 7 Crosfield (A), Sat 14 Hull Dockers (H), Sat 21 Blackbrook (A), Sun 29 Castleford Panthers (H).

November: Sat 4 Cottingham Tigers (A(. Sat 11 Sheffield Hills Hawks (H), Sat 18 Dewsbury Moor (A), Sat 26 York Acorn (H).

December: Sat 2 Thatto Health (H), Sat 9 Keighley Albion (A), Sat 16 Silk Cup Challenge Cup (2nd round), Sat 23 London Skolars (H).

2001

January: Sat 6 Milford Marlins (A), Sat 13 Crosfield (H), Sat 20 Hull Dockers (A), Sat BARLA Cup (2nd round).

February: Sat 3 Blackbrook (H), Sat 10 Castleford Panthers (A), Sat 17 Cottingham Tigers (H), Sat 24 Sheffield Hills Hawks (A).

March: Sat 3 Dewsbury Moor (H), Sat 10 Normanton Knights (A)

PICTURE: IN CHARGE: New Heworth coach Harold Box meets some of the Black and Whites players at Elm Park Way