TWO rugby league referees from York will be at Old Trafford on Saturday for the Super League Grand Final - when they could be presented with notable awards themselves.

Veteran man-in-the-middle Stuart Evans, 67, a long-standing committee man and trustee of the York & Selby Rugby League Referees’ Society, has been nominated for the Community Match Official of the Year gong.

Fellow York & Selby society official Shane Daniel, meanwhile, has been shortlisted for the Teacher of the Year accolade.

Daniel is a teacher at Huntington School and his nomination is in recognition of his commitment to organising coaching and playing opportunities for school boys and girls.

These accolades are among the Rugby Football League's Community Awards which will be presented during a ceremony in the Captain’s Lounge at Old Trafford prior to the sell-out title-decider between Leeds and Wigan.

A former New Earswick All Blacks and Heworth ARLC player has won a notable award of his own down under.

Craig Richardson, 23, from Huntington, became the first English player to receive the top hooker accolade in the Western Australia Rugby League competition.

He has also collected the player of the year and president’s player of the year awards for his club Joondaloop Giants.

Richardson started playing rugby for All Blacks from under-12s to U16s and later joined Heworth from U18s to open age before moving to Australia aged 20.

Meanwhile, most of the amateur game takes a break this weekend due to the Grand Final.

York Acorn ARLC, in a tough race for the play-offs in National Conference League division one, return a week on Saturday at home to relegated Saddleworth.

New Earswick All Blacks will be hoping to kickstart their new Pennine League championship season that day after falling at the first hurdle in the BARLA Yorkshire Cup on Saturday, losing 32-28 at Hull League side Reckitts.

All Blacks tries came from Tom Baron (2), Jack Carling, Jamie Norris and Dec Malarkey - in his first game back after two years away - with Liam Gargan adding four conversions.

“Individually we played well barring couple of errors but we lacked early-season cohesion and confidence as a team,” said player-boss Jack Stearman.

Selby Warriors, meanwhile, got off to a great start in Pennine League division two after full-back Shane Simpson sealed an 18-10 win at Greetland All Rounders with a super late try - despite being down to 12 men.

It was set up by a great run from Damion Evans, who sucked five defenders in, allowing Gayvn Lightowler the chance to send Simpson in with a reverse pass under the sticks.

Sixteen-year-old debutant Jack Greensmith had also scored, with Gary Watkinson booting three goals from three attempts to cap the victory.

The opening exchanges had been very physical but Selby, with prop Luke Thomas making a terrific debut, won this battle in the middle of the pitch hands down.

They paid for conceding penalties by going 6-0 behind but soon came into their own and a converted try from acting-half by hooker Ryan Wagstaff levelled the scores.

A superb break and off-load from Tom Gundhill then saw Greensmith, up in support, go under the posts for a 12-6 interval lead.

The second half began badly for Selby as centre Steven Lawrie was dismissed for punching.

The task then narrowed the gap to 12-10 with 20 minutes left.

However, the Warriors dug in and got that clinching try.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are seeking coaches and helpers for junior teams. The club will also be hiring out their floodlight pitches to any local sports teams, football or rugby, throughout the winter. Anyone interested can phone Craig on 07747 164967.