LIAM WATLING was among the big winners at the York & District Amateur Rugby League presentation evening - when a special award also went to Wayne Foster for his work arranging a big charity match.

Former Heworth ARLC junior Watling, who as a youngster had a spell in York City Knights' academy and a brief stint in their first-team ranks eight years ago, lifted the Colin Nolan Memorial Trophy as York ARL Player of the Year.

Watling, who plays for York Lokomotive ARLC and has also coached the team, was also named the Yorkshire Men's League division three player of the year this term.

Foster, meanwhile, received a York ARL Special Award for his work in organising the memorable charity over-35s match between Heworth, his club, and New Earswick All Blacks in April.

The matched, watched by a bumper crowd at Elmpark Way, raised £7,200 for Brain Cancer Research and the Meningitis Research Foundation in memory of former Heworth and All Blacks club stalwarts Phil Marwood and Ady Robinson respectively.

In other awards, Jack Stearman, player-coach of the All Blacks and as of recently on the staff at the Knights, won the Eurig Thomas Unsung Hero Award, while York Acorn ARLC picked up the York ARL Club of the Year gong, as well as receiving the Yorkshire Men's League Club of the Year trophy, their 'A' team having impressed in division one this year.

Both awards were received on behalf of the club by chairman Mick Lumby.

The Lady Player of the Year award, meanwhile, went to Ashley Hyde, of York Ladies.

The evening, at South Bank Social Club, saw awards presented by the Lord Mayor of York Sonja Crisp and the Sheriff of York Brian Smith.

Congratulations were also given to the recent winners of Rugby Football League Community Awards, namely Annie Potter, Ken Sykes and Stuart Evans, plus a runner-up, Shane Daniel; to Spen Allison, who became president of the British Amateur Rugby League Association and was named BARLA District Secretary of the Year; to Evans, for being elected on the BARLA management board; and to Evans, Jim Bone and Allison for being inaugurated into the York Rugby League Legends roll of honour.

The night was also told that Allison and Foster were also to collect accolades at BARLA's upcoming awards night - capping an excellent year for York ARL.

Allison will be named District Secretary of the Year, while Foster will collect the Unsung Hero award.

Additionally, Matthew Chapman was a runner-up in the Unsung Hero category for his work with York Lokos, while Acorn 'A' coach Leigh Rientoul was a Coach of the Year runner-up.

l THE annual reunion of the former Southlands ARLC will be held on Friday, November 6, at St Clement's Working Men's Club from 7.30pm. All are welcome.