YOUNGSTERS from York's Joseph Rowntree School were edged out of the battle for a place in the finals of Yorkshire Water's Rugby League Nines competition.

A total of eight teams made it through to the regional finals at the South Leeds Stadium, where competition was fierce.

No single team won by more than a seven-point margin and, at the end of play, there were a number of teams level on points - but there could be only two finalists and the honours were decided on points difference.

It was closest in Pool 'B' where Joseph Rowntree lost out to St Bede's School (Bradford), Rodillian School (Leeds) and St John Fisher School (Dewsbury), who all finished with nine points - but it was Rodillian's plus nine points difference which gave them a place in the final.

They will now meet Pool 'A' Airedale at Hull's KC Stadium ahead of Great Britain's clash with New Zealand in the Gillette Tri Nations Tournament on Saturday, November 20.

Among the interested spectators will be former Great Britain captain and York RL coach Lee Crooks, whose son Ben is a member of the Airedale squad.

The Joseph Rowntree team, including Jack Ambler, Alex Ashfield, Will Dunlop, Dan Jackson, Arnold Sanderson, Luke Whittaker, Jordan Lewis, David O'Callaghan, Tom Greensmith, Adam Cope, David Laborevics, Liam Thompson and Josh Ellis.

HAND-OFF: Pictured right, players from St Bede's defend a determined Joseph Rowntree attack.

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, November 10, 2004