CHOCOLATE and rugby may seem a strange mix, but they certainly seem to pay dividends for the York RUFC supporters club, the Quality Street Gang.

The reigning holders of the Dubai Sevens International Social title are heading back to the scene of their greatest triumph this week, aiming for a repeat performance.

But the social stars, who endear themselves to the 15,000-strong crowds by handing out chocolates, will have to take on one of rugby's most famous sevens events without two of last year's heroes - Aussie wing sensation Joe Roff and ex-England flanker Peter Winterbottom.

The absence of the two stars has done little to dampen the confidence of the QSG, who were funded to raise money for York RUFC, with Leeds Rhinos RL duo Andy Kirk and Ewan Dowes, as well as ex-Harrogate flanker Marcus Smith, coming in for the tournament which runs between November 7-9.

Malton and Norton skipper Chris Creber and his Aussie team-mate Nick Tyson fly the flag for the local clubs, while completing the line-up will be Hugh McHardy (Esher/Scotland A), Jeff Alexander, Simon Mills, Jan Bonney (all Esher), Cory Burt (Canterbury) and Harvey Biljon (Natal Sharks).

"We've no real celebrities with us this time, but we have still got a really good side out," said organiser Ricky Richardson.

"Joe Roff is now at Biarritz and is in the middle of his season, while Wints (Peter Winterbottom) is a trustee of the Richard Langhall Trust and is tied up organising a ball.

"We should have a good chance, though, but there is always that unknown factor of which players will be playing for other teams."

There had been question marks over whether the side would defend their title after the likes of New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and England all withdrew because the International Rugby Board said the main competition would not be part of the World Sevens Series.

However, world champions New Zealand, alongside South Africa, Wales and Scotland, have all agreed to take part - convincing the QSG to make the trip.

But with Fiji opting out from taking part in the main event, Richardson believes his team could come up against the masters of the sevens game in their section of the tournament.

"We have been hearing that because Fiji aren't in the international event, their players could be playing in our tournament, but it is only a rumour at the moment," he said.

The champions will also find themselves on course for a showdown against the reigning Middlesex Sevens holders, the British Army, who have entered a side in the International Social.

INJURY denied former Pocklington scrum-half Charlie Harrison the chance to pit his skills against Australian star George Gregan on Sunday.

Harrison, who now plays for Rotherham, was named in the English National Divisions side to take on the Australian tourists at Welford Road, but he aggravated a shoulder injury in training and was withdrawn from the side.

The injury meant Harrison, 25, missed out on taking on Gregan, who is regarded by many as the world's best No 9.

In Harrison's absence, the league part-timers lost 34-22.

Harrison, from Holme-on-Spalding Moor, enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top having started the 1995/6 season playing for Pock' 2nds before finishing it as the number one scrum-half at Bath.

But the former England A and Under-21s star suffered a loss of form and left the Recreation Ground for Bedford, before heading back to Yorkshire.

YORK have lost the services of their Australian centre Damon Smith until the new year.

Smith, who has been at the club for the past three seasons, has headed home following the death of his grandmother.

Smith will now miss at least six league matches before he returns in January.

YORK Wasps RL have dipped into the local rugby union scene to sign up two players.

York winger Leigh Deakin and Pocklington flanker Carl Stannard have switch codes to chance their arms at the Huntington Stadium.

Twenty-eight-year-old Deakin, who has signed a 12-month contract, had previously played league for York Acorn, Hull, Leeds and the Wasps, before turning to union.

Meanwhile 22-year-old Stannard, a former junior British moto-cross champion, has not played the league code before and is on a two-month trial. He has now quit union to concentrate on the 13-a-side code.

THE seeds sown last season by York Railway Institute are beginning to bear fruit.

After starting an under-13s team last term, the club have continued to develop their junior section by adding U14 and U15 sides this year.

And already the club have seen a number of promising youngsters break into the county set-up.

Jack Goodacre, Daniel Pfluger and Will Starkey have be named in the North Yorkshire U14s squad, while Zac Ford, Daniel Hunt and Robin Grice are included in the U15s section.

Thomas Heslop and Josh Binns complete the call-ups after they were added to the U15s Yorkshire performance squad.

PROMISING back-row forward Matthew Stockdale will be rubbing shoulders with international stars Tony Stanger, Scott Benton and Braam Van Straaten after signing for Leeds Tykes.

Joseph Rowntree School pupil Stockdale, who is part of the Yorkshire Schools squad and has previously been called into the England Clubs Under-18s, is one of the first players to join Tykes to play in their new Yorkshire Academy team - designed to prevent players abandoning the county.

Stockdale, 18, now has a personal training programme to fit around his studies and representative commitments.

HARROGATE have pounced to re-sign their former flanker Steve Hobson.

Hobson, 24, left the club in the summer to join Yorkshire rivals Wakefield, but after just two months at College Grove, he has returned to Harrogate.

The former Worcester and Newcastle player, who offers a useful kicking option to coach Ralph Zoing, will now be pushing for a first team spot.

MALTON and Norton's Gannock ground played host to a friendly clash between the Spotted Cow Gremlins and the Full Measure, Driffield on Sunday.

The emphasis of the match was purely on the social and enjoyment sides of the game, but the Full Measure managed to secure a well-earned victory.

POCKLINGTON vice-presidents and supporters have a special away trip to the dales next Saturday for the club's league venture against North Ribblesdale.

The supporters will travel on the team coach, have lunch in Settle and an evening meal on the return all for £15.

Anyone who has not signed up yet should contact Frank Worrall on (01759) 305610 to book a place.

Updated: 11:56 Saturday, November 03, 2001