CRAMMED into every nook and cranny of a 16-seat minibus, a York junior rugby team tried to become world record breakers... by packing 53 people inside.

Somehow they managed to squeeze in 44 players, parents, bystanders - and one bemused Evening Press reporter - as the vehicle's suspension took the motoring equivalent of a pummelling from a Leeds Rhino.

Youngsters in full kit were squashed against windows, squeezed into the boot and under seats before being pinned against the dashboard.

Then one elderly fan, waiting to watch his grandson play, was thrown into the scrum in a desperate bid to make up numbers.

Despite the cramped conditions, when the doors slammed shut it still left New Earswick All Blacks ten short of smashing the record.

But the brains behind the minibus melee today remained confident that the under-13 team could still be global record holders.

Paul Smith, of the squad's new sponsors, Quartz Travel, said: "We were ten short but the seats were still in. The current record, in Arkansas, America, in 1988, was done in a Chrysler with no seats."

Mr Smith confirmed he would be sending details of the attempt to officials at the Guinness Book of Records.

He added: "They will probably say it does not stand because there was no adjudicator.

"But they might register it, and they did tell us to contact them after the event."

Saturday's minibus stunt was arranged to mark the sponsorship of the junior All Blacks by Quartz Travel.

The company has forked out £1,500 for snazzy new kits for the talented rugby league team, who went unbeaten in 28 games last season on the way to scooping the league title.

At first it looked like the New Earswick attempt would be one of the world's worst-ever record bids.

The weather was miserable and the 15-strong team from Leeds, who the All Blacks were later playing in a pre-season friendly, turned up late.

But coaches Mark Johnson and Phil Pool managed to get enough people together to have a decent stab at the total of 53.

Grandad Keith Johnson, 62, who was there to watch 12-year-old Joel, was thrust into the the mayhem.

He said: "I certainly didn't think I'd end up stuck in the middle of a minibus this morning."

Joe Dey, 12, said the minibus stunt was a "great warm-up for the season".

Updated: 12:03 Monday, August 15, 2005