Amateur RL by Dianne Hillaby

Former York Wasp Craig Forsyth is set to boost Heworth's bid for National Conference premier division survival after returning from a round-the-world trip.

Return: Craig Forsyth

The second row forward has spent the last year travelling the globe but is now back on home soil and ready to make his first league appearance of the season for the Villagers.

Forsyth has had a couple of successful run-outs, in the Alliance side and in the National Cup defeat by Queens, and his experience could be vital as Heworth begin their crucial end-of-season run-in.

Another experienced player likely to return is hooker Mark Atkin who has not figured in the Heworth line-up this campaign because of work commitments abroad.

Heworth begin the countdown on Saturday with a difficult trip to third-placed Oldham St Anne's, who did Heworth a favour last weekend when they defeated the York side's fellow relegation candidates Wigan St Patricks 36-0.

That left Heworth, currently occupying the second relegation berth, and St Pats level on 14 points, with Leigh Miners Rangers two points clear on 16.

It will be Heworth's first league game for a month after their last three matches all fell victim to the weather and National Cup commitments.

They have now announced the re-arranged dates of all their remaining fixtures. After a free week on March 27 they travel to Walney Central on Easter Saturday, April 3; entertain Saddleworth on April 10 then play host to title hopefuls West Hull in their final game of the season on Wednesday, April 14.

New Earswick All Blacks face an uphill struggle in the second division following the expulsion of Ovenden. The removal of the Halifax-based side left the All Blacks in the second re-election spot, and they were plunged further into the mire following York Acorn's victory over basement club Keighley Albion last week.

The fate of the two bottom clubs will be decided at the end of the season by the NCL management committee which has already received five applications for membership from Castleford Panthers, Hunslet Warriors, West Bowling, Waterhead and Hillsborough Hawks.

New Earswick have a chance to move a step nearer guaranteed safety on Saturday when they travel to Normanton Knights, who they beat 14-0 on the opening day of the season.

There is no game for third from bottom Dewsbury Moor which gives Acorn a chance to put further daylight between them and their nearest rivals.

The Blue and Golds are at home to an Eastmoor Dragons side which is still holding out hope of promotion.

York Groves, beaten 15-2 at Ryhill last week, visit Walton in the third division of the Yorkshire League. They were scheduled to take on Mirfield at home but Groves' Burdyke pitch is unplayable so the fixtures have been changed. Selby warriors are at Nottingham in the second division.

New Earswick 'A' entertain Batley Boys 'A' in Yorkshire Alliance division two.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.