Corgi set to call it a day

The former York Rugby League Club boss, who has been at the helm at Elmpark Way for the last two seasons, has already informed the players of his intention to call it a day.

But he has not ruled out a return to the National Conference League premier division club in the future.

'Corgi' Horton, joint coach with Keith Loft, said: "This will be my last season. My girlfriend is expecting a baby at the end of the season and there are also a few courses I want to do in man management and a sprint course from America.

"If I go on them I can't give 100 per cent commitment to Heworth. I talked to the players at the beginning of the season so they knew where they stood. Now I'm just giving it all I've got.

"This is something I want to do but I don't know about the future. As for rugby league I might go back to Heworth or another club, or I might go back into the professional game. But I'm pretty disappointed with professional rugby league at the moment."

Horton's sacking by York in December 1996 for gross misconduct, after 10 seasons with the club as a player and coach, has once again come to the fore this week.

In June 1997 the Wasps' legal representatives reached an out of court settlement with Horton before the start of an industrial tribunal hearing into his dismissal.

The club agreed to pay Horton in installments over a 12 month period. But last week the dispute was back before an employment tribunal.

Though neither the club nor Horton wished to comment, it is believed to have been brought about by York's failure to meet all the payments.

Horton attended the tribunal in Leeds but no representative of the club was present. A member of the tribunal staff confirmed a hearing did take place involving Horton and York Rugby League Club in relation to unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

He said a decision had been reached but would not be available until later this month.

Meanwhile, Horton will have to return his thoughts to rediscovering a winning formula for Heworth who are on a seven-match losing run.

They travel to mid-table Thornhill on Saturday in urgent need of a winning tonic to climb away from the relegation zone.

Currently third from bottom, the Villagers are in danger of losing touch with the pack above them and they will be hoping to repeat their early season victory over the Dewsbury outfit.

On that occasion in September, Heworth recorded their third win in a row with a 28-6 success at Elmpark Way but have managed just two victories since.

Promotion hopefuls Blackbrook stand in the way of York Acorn's bid to pull clear of the re-election zone in the second division.

Both sides suffered first round exits in the Challenge Cup on Saturday but Acorn should cast their mind back to the previous week when they hammered another high-flying division two team, Crosfields, 30-4.

When the Blue and Golds met St-Helens based Blackbrook in September at Thanet Road the match finished all square at 18-18, in-form captain Darren Callaghan lifting the man of the match award with a try, two goals and a drop goal, including an injury-time effort to level the scores.

It is likely to be a very different side this time, with a mixture of injuries and suspensions meaning they could field up to eight different players.

Missing through suspension will be centre Kenny Embleton who completes a three-match ban, scrum half Mick Calam who is out for one game and Dave Pearson who begins a two-match absence.

A back injury is likely to rule out forward Simon Cornish until mid-January, loose forward Mick Colley will miss the game with an arm injury and winger Paul Sawyer has a damaged hand, while prop Leigh Marshall is still out with a long-term knee injury which will keep him out of action until February.

The only other doubt concerns back row forward Paul Yoward who aggravated a leg injury in the cup defeat by Oulton.

But they have been boosted by the return of Gary Isles, Paddy Langan and Mark Hebblethwaite.

With the 'A' team having no game this weekend, coach Stewart Smith has plenty of options for replacements with scrum half Dean Kilbride, second rower John Tichener and centre Kenny Hilton sure to be in his thoughts.

New Earswick All Blacks entertain Dodworth in a mid-table encounter which could go either way.

Dodworth, just two points behind the All Blacks in division two with a game in hand, may just hold the edge. They were comfortable winners over Conference second division basement club Keighley Albion in the Challenge Cup last Saturday and triumphed 22-13 in the early season encounter between the two sides.

Paddy Bradford's side, who suffered an agonising 16-14 cup defeat by Yorkshire League Townville on Saturday, will need to keep a close eye on halfback Wayne French who was in devastating form against Keighley, scoring three tries and seven goals in a man of the match display.

Table-topping Allerton Bywater are sure to give second place York Groves a tough time in the Yorkshire League third division.

Having not had the best of results in the last few weeks, the Terriers will need to dig deep and regain some of the composure which served them so well earlier in the season.

Coach Alan Mitchell has a few injury problems and will be missing some players through work commitments, and he asks all players to make themselves available for Saturday's trip.

In the same division, Scarborough Sharks travel to Rodley Dragons while Selby Warriors have an away game at Sherburn in the second division.

HEWORTH face a tricky trip to Cumbria to take on National Conference League premier division rivals Askam in the second round of the Challenge Cup.

Both sides have been struggling in the league with The Villagers, third from bottom, just one place and two points behind Askam who edged the early season encounter at Elmpark Way 24-22.

In other ties, there is the possibility of a fascinating north versus south clash. If Scottish Border Eagles, the first team from north of the border to enter the competition, overcome Wath Brow in their rearranged first round game this weekend, they will entertain NCL second division side London Skolars.

And pride will be at stake in a Hull derby as NCL premier division leaders Skirlaugh play host to third division table toppers Ideal Isberg.

There is the extra incentive of a possible tie against a professional side in the next round when first division clubs, including York, join the competition. Super league clubs are exempt until the fourth round.

Full draw:

Eccles v Clayton or Normanton, Featherstone Lions v Ovenden or East Leeds, Rochdale Mayfield or Leeds Met Univ v Hull Dockers, Beverley East Hull v Townville, Dodworth v Castleford Lock Lane, Queens v West Hull, Saddleworth v Walney Central, Scottish Border Eagles or Wath Brow v London Skolars, Askam v Heworth, Wigan St Judes v Woolston, Dudley Hill v Wigan St Pats, Siddal v Featherstone MW, Thornhill v Barrow Island, Wigan Rose BR v Leigh MR, Egremont v Haydock, Norland v Gateshead Panthers or Crosfields, Oldham St Annes v Ellenborough, Moldgreen v Oulton, Skirlaugh v Ideal Isberg. Ties to be played December 19/20.

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