YORK City Knights' new-look community development scheme is getting into full swing, with praise already emanating from the first school to benefit.

Knights stars Damian Ball and Chris Langley, who are heading up the club's schools programme, took a coaching session at Barlby High School, near Selby, and it was a roaring success.

Dave Milburn, himself a former RL referee, is head of year 11 at Barlby High and is also the school's rugby coach. "It was really good," he said.

"The players spent the morning with us, coaching two lots of kids and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. We're certainly hoping they will come back."

He added: "When we ran our first practice fixtures after half-term we had no fewer than 28 first years down for practice, partly because of the Knights coming. There is a huge amount of enthusiasm, a large part of which is down to the fact they've seen and been coached by professionals."

Langley and Ball - themselves students, studying for sports degrees at Hallam University, Sheffield, and York St John's College, respectively - have taken over the club's schools development section from the departed Trevor Krause.

As reported by the Press, Langley has experience of such roles as he was part of the Bradford Bulls development team for three years, was employed in a sports development capacity by Bradford Council for a year and has been coaching in schools for five years.

He said: "Last year with Trevor Krause was a good starting point and we're hoping to kick on from there.

"We've been working with City of York Council and Neil Gulliver (the council's RL development officer), and the main objective is to get into schools around York and build them up towards a big tag tournament come the summer.

"We will hopefully be going into pretty much every school in York. It will be predominantly junior schools but secondary schools are just as important, and when you've got schools like Barlby High who are really keen for you to be there it's a real bonus.

"For us to get into areas like Selby is really important because the further afield we can get to raise awareness of the Knights and rugby league in general, the better.

"A lot of schools want us to come in and that's a sign of how well respected the club is. It's good for the schools to get us to come in, and it's great for the kids to aspire to play for York City Knights."

As for the Barlby visit, he said: "It was the first school that me and Damian had been to and it went really well.

"The guy there, Dave Milburn, is a big rugby man and was keen to get us in and have a few sessions with a couple of age groups.

"We were well looked-after and the kids all enjoyed it, and I hope it's a link we can continue to forge in the future."

THE Knights might be favourites to win tomorrow, but Sheffield have a great Cup pedigree having written themselves into Challenge Cup folklore just six years ago.

Formed only in 1984, the Eagles made history when they pulled off arguably the biggest Challenge Cup final shock of all time when they defeated the then all-conquering Wigan side 17-8 in the 1998 final.

As all Sheffield and York fans will know, former Knights coach Paul Broadbent was Eagles skipper that day while current Eagles coach Mark Aston kicked two goals and two drop goals in the big Wembley showpiece.

That day also proved one to remember for new Knights assistant-coach Matty Crowther, who scored one of the Eagles three tries.

And the York links don't end there, as another of Sheffield's tries that day was scored by Nick Pinkney, a former York three-quarter.

THE Knights Supporters' Club will run two buses to tomorrow's tie at Sheffield such is the demand.

They have shelved plans to run one early, so both will leave at the same time.

Pick-up times are: Haxby (Holly Tree Lane) 12.10pm, Huntington Stadium (at the back) 12.25, New Lane (oposite Anthea Drive) 12.30, Dodsworth Avenue 12.35, Clarence Street (oposite vets) 12.40, Exhibition Square 12.45, Blossom Street (opposite Odeon) 12.50, Tadcaster Road (outside Marriott) 12.55pm.

One return coach will leave Sheffield straight after the game, while the other will leave about an hour later.

The cost is likely to be £6-7 adult, £5 children 16 and under. Full details and bookings from Leanne Cooper on 07814 716195.

FOR anyone arriving in Sheffield early tomorrow, the recommended pub to visit before the game is the Cocked Hat, opposite Don Valley Stadium.

Apparently, this pub will be showing the Wigan v Widnes tie, which should whet the appetite before the big one between the Eagles and York.

Updated: 11:34 Saturday, February 28, 2004