POCKLINGTON RUFC stage one of their biggest days of the year on Boxing Day with the annual 'Town v Gown' festive rugby union match and reunion.

The game itself sees a Pocklington XV take on the Pocklington School old boys' side, Old Pocklingtonians, kicking off at 1pm.

The fixture is Pocklington's longest standing sporting occasion - the first game between the two dates back to 1879 - and, since being established as a traditional Christmas fixture in the 1980s, it has gone on to become one of the highlights of the town's rugby calendar, drawing a crowd of 500-plus in recent years.

Pocklington and Old Pocklingtonians contest the Bottomley Trophy, given by the family of George Bottomley, who was both a Pocklington School old boy and a founder member of Pocklington RUFC.

The main contest will be on the front pitch, but if enough players turn up with kit by noon, an impromptu second team fixture will be organised.

The clubhouse reunion afterwards has become as much a part of the day as the rugby, with the Old Pocklingtonian Association supporting the proceedings by sponsoring the post-match buffet.

Pocklington have held sway in the fixture in recent years, but the Old Pocklingtonians came from behind to win 32-19 in 2014. Last year the game just managed to go ahead despite the town's Boxing Day floods, with the club side regaining the Bottomley Trophy with a 15-12 victory in a cliffhanger finale thanks to a late Charlie Wilson try.

Meanwhile, fellow North One East club Malton & Norton will likewise stage their annual Boxing Day fixture - Malton Highlanders v Norton Swampies, kicking off at 5pm - in honour of absent friends.

The Malton side will be organised by Patrick Stephenson and the Norton side by Colin Owston.

The bar will be open from 3.30pm with entertainment before and after the match.

* FORMER York RUFC youth section player Tom Bullough has made his senior debut for Yorkshire Carnegie in the Greene King Championship.

The 19-year old, who is currently combining his studies at Leeds Beckett University with training with the former Premiership club’s senior academy, travelled with their first XV for their British & Irish Cup game at Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, which the Dragons won 22-20. Bullough came on for the last 15 minutes.

His selection was the culmination of more than five years of development through Leeds Carnegie's academy, having previously played at York since the age of six.