Battling Heworth are hoping that home is where the heart is as they look for a grandstand finish to secure their National Conference premier division status next season.

The Villagers must win their remaining two games, both at Elm Park Way, to ensure their safety after a remarkable triple success for three of the relegation rivals last weekend.

Heworth showed tremendous courage to gain a 6-2 win at Walney Central while fellow strugglers Askam and Wigan St Patrick's recorded respective home wins against championship hopefuls West Hull and Skirlaugh.

Though Heworth remain second from bottom, four teams are still competing to avoid the second relegation spot alongside rock bottom Beverley East Hull whose demotion was confirmed several weeks back.

And whatever the outcome of the other games, Heworth know that two wins will leave them a point ahead of Askam who have already completed their fixtures.

They will be hoping a bumper crowd will get behind them on Saturday as they look to complete the first part of that mission against Saddleworth Rangers and set up a thrilling finale against leaders West Hull next Wednesday.

Although providing tricky opposition, fifth placed Saddleworth are a beatable side and Heworth will be boosted by having a near full-strength squad.

Rich Darling, unavailable against Walney, comes back into contention and could be joined by influential scrum half Chris Hammerton, who has been struggling with a twisted knee, and second row Danny Wright who has been out with a neck injury.

Both are rated at 50-50 to come into the squad which did not pick up any injuries against Walney.

York Groves, beaten 22-10 at Outwood last week, hope to bounce back when they entertain Mirfield at Burdyke in Yorkshire League division three.

Bottom of the table Scarborough are also hoping to put behind them their 52-6 home defeat by Leeds Social last week as they travel to Walton, seeking only their third win of the season.

In division two Selby Warriors, who had a fine 18-0 win at North Leeds, face a trip to Hanging Heaton.

New Earswick All Blacks 'A' are at Batley Boys in Yorkshire Alliance Two.

York Acorn won the battle of the rugby codes at Clifton Park with a 49-24 triumph over York Rugby Union Club in their annual charity challenge.

The first half was played under union rules but Acorn still came out on top, 17-12, thanks to a blockbuster tackle from Nicky Warters. Acorn's points came from tries by Dean Kilbride, Paul Sawyer and Gary Isles plus a Mark Crake goal.

The second half under league rules was easier for the Blue and Golds who stormed to a 32-12 win following tries from Andy Dudman, Lee Frank, Steven Irving, Kilbride, Alan Willitts and Isles, along with goals from Frank, Crake, Matt Corr and Mark Hebblethwaite.

Two unbeaten records were on the line in the Under-9s curtain raiser.

York RU had won all 30 games, scoring over 800 points and conceding just 75, while Acorn boasted a similarly exceptional rugby league record.

In the end it was Acorn who triumphed 34-10 overall, though both teams remained unbeaten in their respective codes. The union game ended 10-10 after Acorn hit back from 10-0 down with tries by Matthew Fairclough and David Leeke.

Then the young Blue and Golds turned on the style to run in six tries in the league encounter, five of them coming from Fairclough with one by Mark Sanderson. Eddie Beddingham, David Leeke and Ross Varley also played well.

Money raised went to the Hollie Byrnes Trust Appeal and St Anne's Shelter and Housing Action.

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