YORK Acorn ARLC prop Tim Stubbs is set to have a trial at Keighley Cougars.

Stubbs was a standout performer for the York & District rep team against York City Knights on Wednesday night, especially in the third quarter when for a period the amateur outfit were in the ascendancy, before ultimately losing 46-12.

And District player-boss Leigh Paul-Rientoul, also Stubbs’ coach at Acorn, revealed that was his likely last outing in the community game as he looks to win a deal at the Knights’ League One rivals from Cougar Park.

“That was his swansong for us really,” said Paul-Rientoul - who became a dad in the early hours after the match after partner Paula gave birth to Quhey Leigh. “We wanted him to have that last good run for us and he showed up well.”

Stubbs, now 22, had a brief spell with the Knights as a teenager before returning to Acorn and being a regular standout performer in the National Conference League.

Paul-Rientoul said: “It’ll be a loss for Acorn. We’ve had a few newcomers down but it will be a big ask to fill his boots.”

Acorn may yet also lose Matt Chilton, who scored twice for the Knights against his former District team-mates on Wednesday, on his bow on trial for the pro side. He played the first half at centre and the second at full-back.

Paul-Rientoul said: “I was impressed with Matt. He got two tries and could maybe have had three.”

The District coach also remarked with a grin about the “good battle” – and brotherly love - between Chilton and big sibling Antony, who scored all of the rep team’s points and was named man of the match.

He explained: “Ant scored from a kick that Matt fumbled and he didn’t know how to feel about it, saying, ‘Oh no that was my brother’. But later he missed a penalty to touch and was a bit gutted about it but Matt ran it back really well so it helped put his brother in a good light.”

Paul-Rientoul, meanwhile, was generally happy with his team’s showing, and especially pleased to finish with a better result than when Acorn were seen off 66-0 by the Knights in the Challenge Cup in 2016.

He said: “I was quite pleased with the scoreline. I thought they’d maybe put more points on us but it was a much better scoreline than the one against Acorn and that was good for us.

“At one point in the second half it was only 10-6 in that half, which was really pleasing, before their two late tries opened it up a bit. Their fitness showed.

“There were good performances from a few of our lads. Ant Chilton got his two tries and showed a good kicking game.

“Joe Deighton, from Heworth, ran really strongly and took some stopping.

“George Hunt from All Blacks – I was impressed by him. He punches well above his weight.

“Overall it was a really good day for our lads to build on with what we’re trying to achieve as York & District. It’s helped with team spirit and the whole ethos of the rep team.

“I think James Ford (Knights coach) was impressed with us. I don’t think he realised how good we were going to be.”