YORK Lokomotive face a tough test as they look to get back on track in the RL Conference Yorkshire premier division.

The Lokos were given a rugby league lesson by former Challenge Cup hero Leroy Rivett on Saturday as they lost 42-30 to East Leeds in a fine free-flowing game.

And this Saturday they entertain Milford Marlins, who top the table with three straight wins and a century of points to their name, knowing victory is needed to give them hope of a top-four finish.

Milford, a young, fast side from the National Conference League club who have branched into the summer season, saw off Scarborough 30-16 last time out.

The Lokos should not be too downhearted by their defeat to second-placed East Leeds, though, as the sides were well matched, with hat-trick man Rivett – the four-try man of the match in Leeds Rhinos’ Challenge Cup final triumph in 1999 – proving the difference.

There was also a key ten-minute period in which they were down to 12 men and conceded two converted tries, Steve Foster having been controversially sin-binned. The Lokos were also not helped by some other dubious refereeing.

Luke Hacket’s converted try had put Easts ahead, and, although Karl Harton replied after good work by young centre Ben Dent, three tries in eight minutes, by Rivett, Lee Priestley and Jordan Normington, the last set up by Rivett, put the hosts in control at 20-4.

Amazingly, Lokos hit back in the last ten minutes of the first period to go ahead at the break.

Kevin Brayshaw jinked in and the creator of that try, Ben Jones, who was inspirational at scrum-half, added a two-minute brace, goaling all three for a 22-20 lead.

However, tries by Rivett and John Carter swung the game back Easts’ way while Foster was off, and, although Gareth Howell replied on Foster’s return, set up by Liam Watling, Normington got a second try from a Rivett pass.

Watling again narrowed the gap but veteran Rivett – who, during his spell with Rochdale Hornets, has also been the scourge of York City Knights – had the final say.

Jase Harper was Lokos’ man of the match, well supported by Jones, Watling and soldier Mark Musgrove, playing his last game for before his tour of duty in Afghanistan.