Brothers-in-arms

Confused by this commentary? Well this is what could happen if Selby take on Malton and Norton this season and field just some of the siblings available to them.

Image how the selectors at Selby and Malton, as well as York, York RI and Pocklington, feel when it comes to their weekly meeting to deliberate over who is playing in what side.

In what is becoming a real commentator's nightmare, the area's rugby teams are being swamped with brothers playing for them.

It would only take an unobservant secretary or a slip of the pen and suddenly Selby's first team flanker Duncan Phillips is dropped to the thirds, while his brother Owen is handed a place in Yorkshire One side.

In fact, Selby could field a 19-strong squad of brothers, and to add to the confusion they could include two sets of fathers and sons.

At Malton, when David Cooke returns from his sabbatical in Australia, the Gannock-based club could have four sets of brothers in their first XV - with the surnames Cooke, Webster, Piercy and Newsome filling the team sheets.

York have just the three sets of brothers, and again all have the potential of appearing in the first team, with Andy and Nick Kay, James and Sam Arkle, Craig, Nick and Gareth Ventress.

Pocklington can boost the largest set siblings from one family with Charlie, George, Harry and Sam Allen following in their father Richard's footsteps at Percy Road. Also hot on the heels of their dad are the Webber brothers Matthew and Rob.

Fortunately, the selectors at York RI only have Dave and Jon Sowray to worry them.

Selby: Wright Phillips (1st XV), Duncan Phillips (1st XV), Owen Phillips (3rd XV), Richard Topping (1st XV), Dave Topping (2/3rd XV), Andy Pocklington (1st XV), Jamie Pocklington (1st XV), Andy Bennett (1st XV), Charlie Bennett (Registered but not yet playing), Paul Gabel (1/2nd XV), Andy Gabel (2/1st XV), Jim Nicholson (1/2nd XV), Richard Nicholson (1/2nd XV), John Webster (1st XV), Robert Webster (3rd XV), Mick Ullathorne (4/5th XV), Andrew Ullathorne (3/4th XV), Mark Kealy (4/5th XV) and Richard Kealy (4/5th XV). Plus father and sons Charlie (3rd XV) and Ben Booth (3rd XV) and John (4th XV) and Carl Goodhead (4th XV).

Malton and Norton: David Cooke (Australia, but 1st XV), Ian Cooke, Jon Newsome, Andy Newsome, Tom Piercy, Stephen Piercy, David Webster and Richard Webster (all 1st/2nd XV).

York: Andy Kay, Nick Kay, James Arkle, Sam Arkle, Craig Ventress (all 1st/2nd XV), Nick Ventress (currently at university but 1st/2nd XV), Gareth Ventress (3rd XV)

Pocklington: Sam Allen (1st XV), Harry Allen (1st XV), George Allen (at Uni but 2nd XV), Charlie Allen (coming up from the youth section), Matt Webber (1st XV), Rob Webber (come up from youth section, but at Leeds Tykes Academy).

York RI: Dave Sowray (2nd XV), Jon Sowray (2nd XV).

ANOTHER set of siblings who originally hail from the area have set their sights on representing Ireland at the 2003 World Cup in Australia

Simon and Guy Easterby, who play their rugby at Llanelli having started their senior careers at Harrogate, both scored tries as the Emerald Isle booked their place at next year's finals with a win over Georgia.

And after a hectic international schedule that has seen them star in the friendly win over Romania and the World Cup qualifying victories against Russia and Georgia, the former Ampleforth College pupils are hoping that this is the start of their best ever season.

"Playing in Russia was a good experience as it was something that you wouldn't usually do off your own backs," said Simon. "It was good to go over there, get the job down and then get home to finish it off against Georgia.

"We're pleased with the fact that we've got these games out the way, as it has been a slow start with three internationals kicking off the season.

"But I think these games will have put us in a good position for the autumn internationals and the rest of the season - it should give us a slight advantage over the rest.

"Obviously, my aim is to keep injury free and to perform well for Llanelli. If you can put in the performances for your club you can stay in the international picture.

"We all want to play at the World Cup, it is the carrot at the end of the season."

ST PETER'S School will finally play their delayed Daily Mail Schools' Rugby Under-15s Cup second round tie against Horsforth next week.

The match should have been played by this weekend, but due to other commitments Horsforth were unable to meet the deadline.

However, the schools have been granted an extension by the tournament's organisers down at RFU Development Centre at Castlecroft.

The St Peter's boys, who are defending the title they won dramatically at Twickenham back in March, will now face their counterparts from the Leeds-based school on Wednesday, 2.45pm kick-off.

Meanwhile, more than 165 boys from St Peter's were in rugby action today as the school fielded a staggering 11 sides for their annual fixture against Ampleforth College.

TWO of the tries in York's 29-10 victory over Huddersfield YMCA took on extra significance.

Prop Nick Hare crossed for possibly his last five-pointer for the first team, while utility forward Herman Louw powered over for his first.

Hare, who was only coaxed out of retirement to ease the club's shortage of front row forwards, has never been a prolific try-scorer, but he was on hand to finish of a well-worked catch and drive move from a line out.

Meanwhile, South African Louw, who was only called up to the first squad after Jim Hawcutt pulled out, came off the bench and showed the Clifton Park faithful what he is capable of, with a powerful run to the line.

NEW St John College RUFC coach Colin Clark will be taking on some familiar faces in his new role.

The former Pocklington flanker took up the post for the first time this week, and depending on how the fixtures work out he could find himself putting sides out against three other coaches with links to Percy Road.

Current Pock assistant-coach Alan Greenwood, a formidable hooker during the 1980s and 90s, will combine his role at Percy Road with that at Askham Bryan College, while Paul Rhodes, who skippered Pock to the Yorkshire One title during their halcyon days of the mid-1990s, will educate the pupils at Bishop Burton College in all things rugby.

And the newest recruit to the world of coaching, is prop Andrew Wilson with the former Pocklington School pupil from Spaldington the player-coach at York Law College.

RECORD-BREAKING York stalwart Allan Robertshaw is set to pull on his boots one more time to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Robertshaw entered the Guiness Book of Records after racking up 1,075 first team appearances at York.

But his total number of games for the club is closer to 1,400 with Robertshaw having turned out for lower sides and captained the thirds.

And he will make one last hurrah on November 23 as part of a special York invitational side to play Yarnbury 3rds.

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, October 05, 2002