YORK RI Under-16s are preparing for the biggest game in the history of the rugby union club's junior set-up tomorrow.

A record-breaking run has seen the New Lane club's top-ranked junior side reach the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup for the first time to face Driffield.

Never before has a junior side gone so far in the county competition, but the U16s' feat is all the more remarkable as they have only been together for two seasons.

The squad has been pieced together from a wide selection of schools across the area - with the players hailing from Manor, All Saints, Oaklands, Easingwold, King James' and Huntington.

Much of the success of the team has gone down to the way the lads have responded to the coaching staff - chief youth coach Steve Mallinson, U16s' coach Dave Richardson and ex-first teamer Hugh Rodden have worked hand in hand with a back-room team of Vicky Binns, Keith Carlton and Sean Heslop.

But while RI's emergence as a force on the junior circuit is still in its infancy, tomorrow's visitors, in comparison, are experienced campaigners. They won the U15s Yorkshire Cup last season, while also adding the prestigious Bridlington Tens title to their collection. In that tournament, Driffield beat RI in the group stages, before toppling York in the final.

However, not even an outbreak of colds among the RI squad this week will prevent the spirited band of youngsters taking to the New Lane pitch tomorrow (kick-off 11am).

According to Scrum Down's contact at New Lane, each of the lads bring their own unique contribution to the team from Will Starkey, 'a tiny atom of a hooker' who is playing a year above his age, to Josh Binns, the club's county wing-forward.

Joining Binns in the stakes for representative honours this season, RI also have the non-stop Elliott Richardson at scrum-half and skipper Tom Heslop, who have both represented North Yorkshire.

Other players to watch for include backrow duo Tim Thomas and Dan Hunt, all-rounder Robin Grice, who has only to play at second-row to have played in every position, Mark Musgrave, Shaun Thompson, Gareth Stewart, Tom Helstrip, Tim Black, Jimmy Ray and Daniel Hickie.

Other regular players, when their commitments to the successful Acorn U16 rugby league team allow, are Tom Dunmore, Dan Holder, Martin Schofield and Tom Hill.

Tonsillitis means that prop Lloyd Carlton looks set to miss tomorrow's semi- final.

All spectators are welcome along to New Lane to watch the action.

Also in Yorkshire Cup semi-final action tomorrow are Malton and Norton U13s, who face Harrogate at home. All support would be greatly appreciated.

THERE were more call-ups for the area's youngsters into the county squads this week.

Joining York RI's Josh Binns in the Yorkshire Under-16s set up are Pocklington duo Nick Bennett and Dieter Iveson, with Tadcaster Grammar School pupil Jonathan Walters, a product of the York youth section, also included.

In the U15s, York duo Chris Woolley and Thomas Bewick have graduated from the North Yorkshire set-up.

MALTON and Norton's success over recent seasons has been built on their unerring ability to run the ball at every opportunity.

Pat Stephenson has developed a side that passes the ball for fun - with tries the natural result - with perhaps their only downfall being when it comes to the forward-inspired battles on wet, muddy pitches.

You would think, then, that when it comes to the try-scoring charts it would be a winger or fly-half topping the tally.

However, it is New Zealand-born No 8 James McKay who is their try-star, with an amazing tally of 19 five-pointers in just 21 games - a haul any winger would be proud of.

It is not unusual for a No 8 to bag his fair share of tries, but they are usually the result of pouncing from five-metre scrums when the pack is on top, so for McKay to plunder for a side known more for their backs skills than their forward power is all the more impressive.

McKay, who joined the club in 2001 from Johnsonville in New Zealand, is currently putting the backs at the club to shame, with skipper and fly-half Chris Creber managing just 14 tries, fellow Kiwi Willie Barber, the club's full-back, 12 and winger Tim Chapman 13.

FORMER Harrogate flanker Simon Easterby has put himself in line for a recall to the full Ireland squad after a deft piece of skill for the 'A' team in Italy.

Easterby, who is now at Llanelli, had failed to recapture his place in the full set-up after a shoulder injury had ruled him out of the autumn international matches against Australia, Fiji and Argentina.

Despite returning to full fitness, the form of the rejuvenated Victor Costello, Keith Gleeson and Anthony Foley in the Ireland back row has left Easterby to prove himself in the 'A' team.

The 27-year-old has risen to the challenge, crossing for a try in the 28-11 victory over Italy 'A' last week in Rovigo.

Apparently, Easterby showed the skills of a back - probably learnt off of his older brother and scrum-half Guy, who has been warming the bench for the seniors - as he threw a dummy and then had the audacity to use the side-step, before darting over for a try.

Although unlikely to have been enough to convince coach Eddie O'Sullivan to tinker with a winning formula, Easterby could find himself on the bench for the visit of the French next Saturday.

IF wearing the White Rose jersey wasn't motivation enough for the sextet of local players in the Yorkshire U20s, then the lure of a tour to France and Romania should do the trick.

The RFU have announced that the English Counties will embark on a two-match trip to Bucharest and Constanta, followed by a game against France Amateurs in Blagnac, near Toulouse this summer.

And the 26-strong touring squad will be selected from players who have competed in the County Championship, U-20 Championship and Shield.

That opens the door for Pocklington trio Richard Booth, Matt Webber and Henry Mitchell, former St Peter's pupil Richard Pike, ex Joseph Rowntree flanker Matthew Stockdale and Harrogate's Richard Davies, who are part of the U20s squad for this season.

Updated: 11:39 Saturday, March 01, 2003