York Acorn face their first game without influential play-maker Darren Callaghan when they entertain promotion seeking Eccles in the National Conference second division on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

Pearson power: Dave Pearson returns after suspension to give Acorn a lift.

Callaghan, who switched to the professional ranks to join York Wasps this week, will be sorely missed by the Blue and Golds as they seek to move away from the re-election zone.

Who will replace him both as loose forward and goalkicker is still in doubt, though favourite to fill his boots is Lee Frank who could switch from hooker.

Acorn, beaten 46-12 in the reverse fixture, will be looking to produce the same kind of form as in the first half of last Saturday's 37-12 defeat by league leaders Ideal Isberg.

They need at least ten points from a possible 16 to secure safety, a feat well within their grasp with away games at Keighley Albion, Hull Dockers, Normanton and London Skolars, along with home matches against Dodworth, Ovenden and New Earswick.

But injuries are blighting their immediate hopes. They are still without prop forward Leigh Marshall with a knee injury who will hopefully return in two weeks, fellow forward Alan Hebblethwaite (knee) and utility back Stephen Waldron (neck), while Kenny Embleton (ribs), Andy Dudman (arm), Michael Lumby (dead leg) and Gary Isles (hamstring) all face late fitness tests.

Set to return is Dave Pearson who has completed a suspension, Mark Hebblethwaite, Kenny Hilton and Paddy Langan.

Last week Acorn gave chances to two of their Under-18s, stand off Danny Liddell and utility player Dave Lonsdale, and both gave impressive performances.

They could soon be joined in the first team squad by several more U18s, most notably centre Rich Tinker, winger Rian Calam and prop Jamie Towey.

Club spokesman Paul Lumby said: "Now is the time to blood several of our talented Under-18s, so as to give them the experience they need to make them better players.

"This experience will be invaluable for next season's campaign - when we hope a number of them will be pushing for regular starting spots - which can only benefit the first team in the long term."

The season is not getting any better for New Earswick All Blacks - this week they face their third away match in a row against league leaders Isberg.

Isberg's defeat of Acorn last week took them five points clear at the top while injury stricken All Blacks were hammered 46-0 away to another Hull side, Dockers.

That came on the back of a 72-2 thrashing at Eastmoor which has left them with one of the worst defensive records in the division.

With barely enough players to field a team, coach Paddy Bradford will once again have to put out a patched up side and hope they can survive the expected Isberg onslaught.

New Earswick can at least look forward to some respite in the coming month with two of their next three league games being at home to two of the division's strugglers, Keighley Albion and Dewsbury Moor.

Heworth travel to Askam in the NCL first division hoping to avoid an unwanted treble.

They have already suffered a double defeat against the Cumbrians, at home in the league and away in the Challenge Cup, the latter coming just three weeks ago.

But both games could have gone either way - Askam edged the first 24-22 and the second 25-22 after Heworth had led for much of the game - and the Villagers will be desperate to turn the tables this time round.

Both sides are struggling in the league. Heworth are third from bottom and Askam one place above them on points difference, though relegation now seems unlikely for either side with Beverley East Hull and Wigan St Patricks well adrift at the bottom.

Coach Stewart Horton is likely to field a similar side to the one narrowly beaten by leaders Skirlaugh last Saturday with full back Richard Darling, who came off with a leg injury, the only doubt.

Winger Andy Tindall, who returned after a three-month lay-off with a knee injury, came through the match unscathed and is expected to retain his place. Jason Gatus is still out with a broken hand but Steve Barnard should return after missing the last game with flu.

York Groves need to pull out all the stops for their home game with second placed Outwood if they are to have any chance of challenging for a top four play-off place in the third division of the Yorkshire League.

They are boosted by the return of strong running prop Simon Moat after a long-term injury and groin operation.

Coach Alan Mitchell will accept nothing less than total commitment and asks for all players to make themselves available.

All three York clubs' 'A' teams are at home in the Yorkshire Alliance on Saturday. First division bottom club Heworth will be looking for their first win of the season against Thornhill while in the second division New Earswick take on Eastmoor and Acorn entertain league leaders Milford Lions.

York Acorn ladies are at home to Crosfield on Sunday (KO 1.30pm) in the Women's Rugby League second division.

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